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.
Your Conversation have the Power to Heal or Crush the Spirit of others.
October 17, 2008
Scripture: “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4)
Conversations that are uplifting, encouraging and honest bring life to those around you. At the same time, negative, critical, cynical or sarcastic conversations, even if they are humorous for the moment, do not bring healing and hope. In fact they create a reputation that other’s will drift away from while damaging the emotions of those around you. Over time, healing conversation creates friends while deceitfulness brings isolation and loneliness. You choose!
Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask that you would give me the courage to begin to take control of my own conversations. I recognize that my own words can bring life to others or crush their spirits. Today I choose to focus on the power of Your WORD and bring healing to those around me by using uplifting, encouraging and godly conversation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Godly Conversation Bring Peace to Every Relationship
October 16, 2008
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)
You and I have the power to shift conversations toward godly values. Regardless of another person’s comments made to you, God’s WORD is clear – your answers can turn away wrath or crank up the anger! The old adage “it takes two to tango” is true. If you choose not to fuel the heat of a conversation, but rather temper it with gentle answers God’s WORD will go into effect, and His peace will bring transformation – right before your eyes!
Prayer: Dear Lord, I believe Your WORD! I choose today to see Your hand at work in my conversations – even the difficult ones. Help me to realize that my words can shape the destiny of a conversation. Fill me with the wisdom of Your WORD so that I can respond with gentleness and not with wrath! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God Finds Pleasure in those who Prioritize Truth in Conversation
October 15, 2008
“The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful.” (Proverbs 12:22)
In today’s “politically correct” world, where conversations are muted by public opinion and people hesitate to speak openly, God openly declares He “delights” in truthful conversation. We all can feel the insincerity and shallowness that comes with carefully constructed half-truths and appreciate the kind and honest words of a friend.
How much more then must our Heavenly Father enjoy honest conversation that stretches up to Him in praise and extends, based on the truth of His WORD, from one person to another.
Prayer: Dear Lord, all around me people are focused on “sounding” right in their words. Help me instead Lord, to be truthful and say what is “right.” I pledge to find ways to be kind and merciful with others but to not deny the truth. In this I know you will be pleased. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Whole-hearted Trust in God results in an Abundant Life
October 14, 2008
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Growing strong in God is about “yielding” and total “surrender” more than it is about acquiring knowledge and understanding. In fact, Proverbs instructs us to not find confidence in our own intellect or in our ability to problem-solve, but to rather grow in giving Him total trust and eternal credit.
God desires to invest the wisdom of His WORD in those who will appreciate it. When facing any difficulty the instruction is clear – first trust Him and then give credit for the solution to God alone. He then will take over the process and make all things that appear crooked and confused straight and simple!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, living in total trust and giving away temporary credit are two things that I find difficult to do. I choose a different path beginning today. It is a path of trusting You, acknowledging You as the Source of my needs, and waiting on You to discover the path in which I will walk. Teach me Lord to follow this principle so that confusion gives way to clarity and the complexities of life make room for your clear and direct paths of abundance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Godly Wisdom Provides the righteous the Power to Create Lasting Wealth
October 13, 2008
“A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” (Proverbs 13:22)
Applying the wise principles of God’s WORD in your life and conversation shifts both your present and your future towards your destiny. Many of us have dreams for a better life, even perhaps the concept that we want to leave our children with more than we were given. But God has even more in store for those who apply His truth. God promises the “power to create wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18) for those who walk in His wisdom.
The talents, abilities, skills, life lessons and your material goods are all gifts from God. It is His intention to bless you with these gifts so that, through the power of His WORD, you can extend His blessings to multiple generations. When you apply the wisdom of His WORD to your daily conversation – it shapes your habits and decisions into legacy leaving deposits for generations to come!
Prayer: Dear Lord, I choose today to allow your wisdom to be the dominant force in my decision making and conversation with others. Rather than find confidence in my own experience, I will entrust my future and the future of those I love to your loving hand. I ask for Your guidance to discover Your principles of wisdom so that I may begin to live out the truth of Your legacy-leaving WORD. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God’s Purposes prevail when we Yield to His Authority
October 12, 2008
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
How do our finite and flawed plans compare with the eternally correct and wise plans of God? He sees the whole of everything we see in part. He is the source and creator of all resources; we are dependent on His provision. He is both the beginning and the end; our lives are but a breath. It makes sense then to submit our best thoughts, ideas and plans to the One who created the heavens and earth. Since His plans will prevail in the end, we should start with seeking Him for wisdom and revelation for our daily direction.
Prayer: Dear Lord, You are Wise and Your ways are higher than ours. We see in part, you see the whole. Help me today to transfer the preferences of my heart to Your purposes and plans. I trust You to bring comfort and direction to my life so my days will find peace and order. In Jesus’ name, Amen.