"O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!" Hab 3:2 NKJV
 
KEEP RUNNING!

The Bible likens the Christian life to a marathon. The writer of the book of Hebrews said: Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured" (Heb 12:1-2 NKJV). Paul wrote to the Philippian believers: "There is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me" (Php 3: 13-14 NCV). Chances are you aren't at the starting line, nor are you at the finishing tape. You're somewhere in the middle. When running a race, the start is always filled with such enthusiasm and energy. And the finish holds such promise as we run the final stretch and reach our goal. But the middle of the race--when we are long past the start and not sure how far away the finish might be--is what often tests us. That's why the prophet Habakkuk wrote: "O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!" It's in "the midst" or the middle of the race that we need encouragement, that we need our second wind, and that we need to refocus on the prize that awaits us. Those who have run before us have passed the baton through the centuries, from generation to generation—without dropping it. What are you to do? Take the baton, run, and keep running!

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"For God does speak...in a dream." Job 33: 14-15 NIV

RESURRECT YOUR DREAM

God is the giver of dreams "For God does speak...in a dream, in a vision...When deep sleep falls on people" (vv. 14-15 NIV). Unless you want to spend the rest of your life being unfulfilled and uninspired, take your dream out of the closet and blow the dust off. It's easy to get caught up in the have tos" of life--working; caring for children, spouses, and aging parents: taking care of homes, etc. But you must believe that you can resurrect your life and your dreams and believe you have the ability to tap into the enthusiasm you once felt for life. You must have the courage to face the disappointments of the past, take a good look at how you got off the path, and see where you are headed. Then you have to silence the voice in your head that says: "This is all there is. Who are you to want more from life? You can't do it; it's too late for you." We give up on our dreams because we think that's what grownups are supposed to do. But as we mature, we realize that reaching for our dreams is what makes us feel alive. The truth is that with love, prayer, and great attention, your dream, like Lazarus, can be resurrected (see Jn 11:43). The secret of recapturing dreams is to enjoy the pursuit of the dream rather than focus on the outcome. Achievement in this case is not about position, fame, or financial compensation, but about doing what you love. That's what Jesus promised: I am come that they might have life, and...have it more abundantly"
(Jn 10:10 KJV).

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"Whatever things are...of good report...meditate on these things." Php 4:8 NKJV

STAY POSITIVE

Marcial Losada is an organizational psychologist who studies the power of positivity.
I He argues that we need a negative feedback loop to survive. Without midcourse corrections, we mindlessly make the same mistakes. But if you want to thrive, you also need a positive feedback loop. His studies have produced what is known as the Losada ratio: its the ratio of positive feedback to negative feedback in a system. It doesn't matter whether that system is a church, a family, or your workplace, there needs to be at least 2.9 positive feedback's for every one negative. So, what's your ratio as a spouse, a parent, a worker, a friend? Part of the reason for the disparity is that negative feedback tends to carry more weight and last longer, so it has to be counterbalanced. A pretty good rule of thumb is this: dish out three compliments for every complaint. Instead of looking for faults, train yourself to catch people doing things right. And here are a few more things you can do to stay positive. (1) Memorize and meditate on the promises of God's Word and anchor yourself to them. (2) Keep a gratitude journal. It will let you know how blessed and how well-off you are. (3) Cultivate the habit of sending a heartfelt note to people you appreciate. It'll only take you two minutes, but you can make someone's day, or even someone's year! (4) Find a way to share "wins" with your family and in your workplace. It has the power to shift the focus and shift the culture. It'll also anchor you to your kids and to your colleagues in a powerful new way.

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"You will...find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jer 29:13 NIV

PRAY ABOUT IT


Fannv Crosby, the noted hymn writer, said she never attempted to write a hymn without first kneeling in prayer. Given that she wrote about 8,000 songs, she was obviously a woman of prayer! Beloved hymns such as "Blessed Assurance," "To God be The Glory:" and "I am Thine,
O Lord" were born from times of prayer. But like many creative people, she was often under pressure to meet deadlines. One time she tried to write lyrics for a tune composed by W. H. Doane. She couldn't seem to find the words, but then she remembered she had forgotten to pray. As she rose from her knees, she dictated as fast as her assistant could write the words for the famous hymn, 'Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross" Another time she had run short of money and needed exactly five dollars for a particular purpose. There was no time to call upon her publishers, so she simply prayed for the money. As she ended her prayer, she began to pace back and forth in her room, trying to get into the mood to write. Just at that time, an admirer called upon her. The two chatted briefly, and in parting, the woman pressed something into her hand. It was a five-dollar bill! Fanny fell to her knees in a prayer of thanksgiving, and upon rising, she wrote one of her most famous hymns, "All the Way My Savior Leads Me." The secret of Fanny Crosby's success is not a "secret." Before she attempted anything for God, she first sought God's help. So, the word for you today is--pray about it!

This Messaged Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"But none of these things move me." Ac 20:24 NKJV

YOU CAN OUTGROW THE PROBLEM!

Before leaving the leaders of the church at Ephesus for the last time, Paul told them:
"The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy" (vv. 23-24 NKJV). There are two ways to deal with a problem: (1) Pray and believe God to remove it, like He did with the walls of Jericho. (2) Outgrow the problem. In the 1920s, an English adventurer named Mallory led an expedition to try to conquer Mount Everest. His first two attempts failed. On his third attempt, he and most of his team were wiped out in an avalanche. Upon their return to England, the few who had survived held a banquet to honor Mallory and those who had perished. As the leader of the survivors stood to speak, he looked around the hall at the framed pictures of Mallory and the others who had died. Then he turned his back to the crowd and faced a large picture of Mount Everest, which stood looming behind the banquet table like a silent, unbeatable giant. With tears streaming down his face, he spoke to the mountain on behalf of his deceased friends: "I speak to you, Mount Everest, in the name of all brave men and women living and those yet unborn. Mount Everest, you defeated us once; you defeated us twice; you defeated us three times. But we shall someday defeat you, because you can't get any bigger--but we can."

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord." Hos 6:3 NKJV

GOD HAS MORE IN STORE FOR YOU

The Lord charged the church at Ephesus with having "left your first love" (see Rev 2:4) and the church of Loadicea with being 'neither hot or cold, but lukewarm' (see Rev 3:15-16). R. T. Kendall said, "The greatest opposition to What God wants to do next comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God did last." Read the following Scriptures carefully and prayerfully: "Do not say, why were the former days better than these?' For you do not inquire wisely concerning this* (Ecc 7:10 NKJV). The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day* (Pr 4:78 NKJV). Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord...He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth" (Hos 6:3 NKJV). "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you" (Jn 16:13-14 NKJV). "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (Jer 33:3 NKJV). "May [you] be able to comprehend...the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:18-19 NKJV). The word for you today is--God has more in store for you.

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Ro 8:35 NIV

PRAY FOR A REVELATION OF GOD'S LOVE (3)

Paul asked: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" And the answer is-nothing! Then he came up with a laundry list of worst-case scenarios, from trouble to danger and anything in between: Trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword" (NIV). When Paul wrote "hardship," he was back in the Mediterranean Sea during a terrible typhoon. "Persecution" pinged his memory of being stoned at Lystra and left for dead. "Trials": Paul stood trial before Nero himself. He also went without food, was bitten by a poisonous snake, and had the clothes stripped off his back so he could be flogged. This did not happen only once or twice. Five times he received the maximum sentence--forty lashes minus one. Paul's back was whiplashed and crisscrossed with 195 scars. Hardship has one of two effects: it either hardens or softens our hearts. And it's that hardening or softening that makes us or breaks us. According to one poll of Londoners, 60 percent of those who survived Germany's blitzkrieg during World War I! remembered it as the happiest time of their lives. It's the tough times that test our love. But that's also how it's proved. The love of Christ wasn't proved by His miracles-it was proved on a Roman cross. And it has proven to be fail proof. So no matter what trouble, hardship, or persecution you face, this too shall pass. More importantly, Jesus is with you and Jesus is for you. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate you from His love! "Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord."

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"I pray that you...may have power...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." Eph 3:17-18 NIV

PRAY FOR A REVELATION OF GOD'S LOVE (2)

Thomas Aquinas was one of the most prolific writers and thinkers of the Middle Ages.
His Summa Theologica is one of history's most exhausting and enduring theologies, But Aquinas never finished it because of something that happened on December 6, 1273, that caused him to quit writing. "All that I have written seems to be like straw," Aquinas said, "compared to what has now been revealed to me." Exactly what was revealed remains a mystery, but that one revelation surpassed all the knowledge he'd acquired. No matter your IQ, that's what you need. You are not smart enough to reason your way to God. You need "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation" (Eph 1:17 NIV). Nothing will change your outlook, or even alter your personality, like a revelation of God's love. But it's so diametrically different from the way we give and receive love on a human level. First of all, His love is unconditional. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more or less because He already loves you perfectly, eternally. Even when you don't reciprocate His love, it doesn't deter, deflect, or diminish His love. It accentuates it. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Ro 5:8 NIV). It's easy to love others when they are at their best. But when they are at their worst? Not so much. But that's the test of true love. Our love tends to be reactive, but God's love is proactive. He loves us when we least expect it and least deserve it.

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word for You Today.

I pray that you...may... know this love that surpasses knowledge." Eph 3:17-19 NIV

PRAY FOR A REVELATION OF GOD'S LOVE (1)

In the realm of general relativity, an event horizon is the point of no return. It's the point at which gravitational pull becomes so great that it's impossible to escape. The most obvious example is the black hole--a celestial object so massive that light can only enter but never exit its gravitational field. The escape velocity of a black hole is greater than the speed of light, which is impossible to exceed. So, once you cross its horizon, there is no tuming back. God's love is like that. The Bible says, "God is love." The implications of that one statement will take all of eternity to unpack. Nothing pulls stronger or longer than God's love. Love is an event horizon, and once you cross over, you can't get back. And who would want to? Logic won't get you to God's love. His love is beyond logical--it's theological. The only way to receive the love of God is via revelation. Paul wrote: *I pray that you... may...grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ...that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." The love of God is measureless. It doesn't fit in a box, not even a box the size of the universe. And if the universe isn't big enough, God's love certainly won't fit within the confines of our human logic. So how do we get it in our hearts and minds? Through a personal revelation! So, the word for you today is: pray for a revelation of God's love.

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

*The weapons of our warfare are...mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." 
2Co 10:4 NKJV

YOU CAN PULL DOWN THAT STRONGHOLD

Just as Jericho was a stronghold in Canaan, we have strongholds in our lives. Paul wrote: "The weapons of our warfare are...mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God"
(vv: 4-5 NKJV). A stronghold is an "argument" or a high thing that "exalts itself against the knowledge of God. It is a conviction, outlook, or belief that attempts to interfere with the truth. A stronghold is a false premise that denies God's promise. It "sets itself up against the knowledge of God" (v. 5 NIV). It attempts to magnify the problem and minimize God's ability to solve it. Does a stronghold have a strong hold on you? Do you speak the language of impossibility? God could never forgive me (the stronghold of guilt). I could never forgive that person (the stronghold of resentment). Bad things always happen to me (the stronghold of self-pity). I have to be in charge (the stronghold of pride). I don't deserve to be loved (the stronghold of rejection). I'II never recover (the stronghold of defeat). I must be good, or God will reject me (the stronghold of performance). I'm only as good as I look (the stronghold of appearance). My value equals my possessions (the stronghold of materialism). Many Christians don't even recognize the strongholds in their lives. But you don't have to be among them. God has given you the weapons of prayer, Scripture, the Name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, fellowship, etc. And collectively, they have "divine power to demolish strongholds" (v. 4 NIV).

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize." Php 3:13-14 NCV

DON'T QUIT; KEEP GOING!

Someone said: 'The secret of success is to be like a duck--smooth and unruffled on top.
and paddling furiously underneath." Niccolò Paganini, the well-known nineteenth-century violinist, illustrated the truth of this. His most memorable concert was marked by
"furious paddling under the surface" rather than easy success. The concert was performed with a full orchestra before a packed house in Italy. Those who heard him play say his technique was incredible and his tone fantastic. Toward the end of the concert, he was astounding his audience with a very difficult composition, when one string on his violin suddenly snapped and hung limply from his instrument. Paganini frowned only briefly shook his head, and continued to play, improvising beautifully. Then, to everyone's surprise, including Paganinis, a second string broke. Shortly thereafter, a third string snapped. It seemed like a slapstick comedy routine as Paganini stood before the awed crowd with three strings dangling from his Stradivarius violin. But instead of leaving the stage to repair his instrument, he stood firm. He calmly completed the difficult number on the one remaining string—a performance that won him applause, admiration, and enduring fame.
Here's another saying: "It's when the going gets tough, that the tough get going!" Paul was such a man: Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above." All of us who are spiritually mature should think this way too. So don't quit; keep going!

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"It was not I but God who was working through me by his grace." 1Co 15:10 NLT

PRACTICE GOD-CONFIDENCE RATHER THAN SELF-CONFIDENCE

Pride promotes self-reliance. It tells us we can indeed do things on our own. In our attempt to walk in self-confidence, we slam the door in God's face and shut out the work of the Holy Spirit, our Helper. Paul was educated, sophisticated, and consecrated, yet he humbly declared, "I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I'm not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God's church. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me--and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace" (vv. 9-10 NLT). No matter how much ability you possess, without God, it will only take you so far. Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5 NIV). So the source of our confidence should be God and not ourselves. When the plans of those walking in God-confidence go awry, they are wise enough to subordinate their desires to the sovereign will of God. They quickly remind themselves, "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Pr 19:21 NIV). They are convinced that God has a higher purpose for their lives, and that no man can thwart it. So practice God-confidence rather than self-confidence.

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"From his mouth come knowledge and understanding." Pr 2:6 NIV

GOD WILL GIVE YOU KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Bill Gates predicted: "There will be 'two societies' in the future; high-paid knowledge workers and low paid service workers." The saying "knowledge is power' is true. And
it's even more dynamic in the spiritual realm. The more you know about God, the more confident you'll be. Knowledge of God's Word can give clarity to the puzzling issues of life.
When a certain religious sect tried to pull Jesus into one of their debates on a particular issue, He replied, "Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God" (Mt 22:29 NLT). There are some truths you need to settle in your heart and let them bring peace to your spirit. For example, no one else can thwart God's purpose for your life. The Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?" (Isa 14:27 NIV). You also need to settle in your mind that no matter what happens, things are working out for your good. Therefore, you can resist anxiety and worry. "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Ro 8:28 NKJV). Daniel reminds us that God "gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him" (Da 2:21-22 NKJV). The "light" you need belongs to God. And you never have to feel insecure regarding any aspect of your knowledge when you know Him, for He knows everything.

This Message Was Taken From:  Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." Jn 6:63 NKJV

THE LIFE-GIVING WORD

Jesus was called "Rabbi" eleven times in the Gospels. But He wasn't like any other rabbi. Rabbis quoted others, but Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you..." In the gospel of John, He said it twice: Truly, truly, I say to you..." The reason Jesus wasn't like any other rabbi was because He was God manifested in the flesh. And Paul says, "Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:2-3 NKJV). The early church fathers had a favorite saying: "The Gospels are a river in which a gnat can swim, and an elephant can drown. The Gospels--the record of Christ's life and teaching have impacted the world so much that they have been translated into 2,527 languages. The second-most-translated book, Don Quixote, has been translated into about 60 languages. To this day, the Bible remains the bestselling book of all time. In the academic world, scholars keep score of how often any articles they write are cited by other scholars. By this year's secular score, Jesus' intellectual impact is unprecedented. Why is this? Because when everything else fails, God's Word works. Jesus explained it this way: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that speak to you are spirit, and they are life." If you are a teacher, you know that the number one question in any class is: "Will this be on the final?" If you want to pass your finals and hear, "Well done!" from the teacher, get into God's Word each day and get God's Word into you.

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." Ro 8:5 NIV

DEVELOPING A SPIRITUAL MINDSET

Muscle memory isn't stored in your muscles. It's a procedural memory that is stored in your brain any time you repeat a muscle movement. Whether is putting a golf ball or playing a violin, the muscle memory becomes stronger the more it is repeated. Have you heard about the 10,000-hour rule? Psychologists say that's the amount of time it takes to become an expert at anything. That's encouraging because it means anybody can do it, but it's discouraging because it means there are no shortcuts, no matter how smart or gifted you are. Just like a foreign language, developing a spiritual mindset is a learning curve. Can you imagine being frustrated on the first day of a foreign language class because you aren't fluent? That's how we often feel when we aren't fluent in prayer or strong in faith, or disciplined in our habits. Psalm 84:7 says we "go from strength to strength" (NIV). You'll be working on this for the rest of your life, one day at a time. You'll keep benchmarking. Your faith ceiling becomes your faith floor. And make no mistake about it--those spiritual disciplines accrue compound interest. And they pay off in terms of joy, fulfillment, and power with God. "Those who live according to the flesh have the minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit ha their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace" (Ro 8:5-6 NIV).

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said." Mt 28:6 KJV

    JESUS CONQUERED DEATH FOR YOU

One day your heart will give a final pulse, and your lungs empty a final breath. And
barring the return of Christ, you will die. The psalmist asked, "What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? (Ps 89:48 NKJV). Young and old, good and bad, rich and poor; neither gender is spared; no class is exempt. "No one has power over the time of their death" (Ecc 8:8 NIV). The geniuses, the rich, the poor--no one outruns or outsmarts it. Julius Caesar died. Elvis died. John Kennedy died. Princess Diana died. We all will die. We won't escape death. The finest surgeon might enhance your life but can't eliminate your death. The Hebrew writer was blunt: 'People are destined to die once' (Heb 9:27 NIV). Exercise all you want. Eat nothing but healthy food and pop fists full of vitamins. Stay out of the sun, away from alcohol, and off drugs. Do your best to stay alive, and still, you will die. Death seems Ilke such a dead end until we read Jesus' resurrection story: 'He is not here; for He is risen, as He said...Go quickly and tell His disciples...He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him...So they went out quickly... to bring His disciples' word... Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him' (Mt 28:6-8,17 NKJV). For the redeemed child of God, death is not the end but the beginning of a glorious life in heaven that will have no end.

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

"He said, It is finished!"                                                                                         Jn 19:30 NKJV

                                                     YOUR DEBT HAS BEEN PAID

In old Testament times, you received forgiveness from God by bringing a sacrificial lamb to the altar, where a priest would shed its blood and offer it as atonement. The first person in Scripture to do this was Cain's brother, Abel (See Gen 4:4). When Solomon dedicated his magnificent temple, he sacrificed one-hundred-and-twenty-thousand sheep and twenty-two-thousand oxen as a sacrifice for the entire nation. In the Old Testament Tabernacle, the sacrificial fire was never allowed to go out; it had to be kept burning. The Israelites carried it with them on their journey through the wilderness, and it's been estimated that between Gethsemane and Easter, no less than one hundred thousand lambs died, literally turning the Kidron Stream red. However, not one fluid ounce of the blood that was shed could atone for our sins. They were simply rolled forward, waiting for a lamb whose sacrifice would end all sacrifices, a priest whose finished work would atone for sin once and for all. And that's what happened when Jesus cried, 'It is finished.' In Hebrew, the phrase literally means "Paid in full." At that moment, the curtain in the temple that separated the people from God was torn from top to bottom. As a result, we can now go at any time where only one man could go one day a year--into the presence of God, knowing we'll be loved, accepted, seen through the blood of Christ, and deemed righteous. With that in mind, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16 NKJV).

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more."                                         Ro 5:20 NKJV

                                                                    MUCH MORE

Just minutes before His final breath, Jesus cried out, "Tetelestai!" from the cross. In English it is translated as "it is finished." It was the same word that had been written on receipts in New Testament times, indicating that a debt had been paid in full. Jesus' death on the cross was the final installment on sin. The entire debt for every sinner who comes to Him for salvation has been paid in full at Calvary. Paul wrote: "Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." Did you catch it? "Much more!" The mercy bank is never closed. And there are never insufficient funds. The supply of grace is always greater than the demand of sin. The split second we confess our sin; a miraculous transaction happens. All our sin is transferred to Christs account and paid in full. But as good as that is, it's only half the gospel. There's a second transfer that takes place. All His righteousness is credited to our account, and God says, "Let's call it even!" Paul explained It this way: "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them...For He made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him* (2Co 5:19, 21 NKJV). To be "in Christ" means we stand in His righteousness rather than our own. So, when we stand before God, we won't have to account for our sin, because it was already accounted for at the cross. The Father will see the righteousness of His Son that has been credited to our account.

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - AWord For You Today.

"The Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand." Dt 30:9 NKJV

 BELIEVE GOD FOR ABUNDANCE

A young artist called her aunt one day to let her know she was leaving on a trip to
a fashionable resort to try and sell her wood carvings of seabirds to the owner of a gift shop. She asked her aunt to pray that her venture would be successful. Her aunt assured her that she would pray for the largest order she had ever received! That evening, the young artist called her aunt back. Not only had the gift shop owner purchased all of her carvings, but the owner of a chain of gift shops had also ordered as many carvings as she could make! She was filled with wonder at how abundantly God had answered prayer. "Now," she said to her aunt, "pray that I can fill his order!" Her aunt replied, "The Lord doesn't open a door unless He expects us to walk through it successfully. When we pray for rain, don't be surprised when you get a cloudburst!" Are you praying for God to meet a need in your life? What answer are you expecting? Be honest. Bare minimum?
Meager-but-satisfactory? Or are you expecting an abundant, more-than-enough supply?
Stand on God's Word: "The Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand." Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (Jn 10:10 NKJV). Paul wrote: "God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (2Co 9:8 NKJV). So, believe God for abundance.

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

We will give ourselves continually to prayer."Ac 6:4 NKJV

P.R.A.Y. (PAUSE, REVERENCE, ASK, YIELD)

In her book 30 Days to a Stronger, More Confident You, author Deborah Smith Pegues uses
the word "pray" as an acronym: "Pause. I stop all activity and focus completely on God. Worship is total preoccupation...The greatest honor and respect we can give to anyone is our undivided attention...Reverence. I express my admiration for all His attributes...At this point, distractions start to pop up like dandelions...I will suddenly remember a task I need to put on my to-do list. I have learned to jot down the task in my journal and ignore the other issues for what they are-mere distractions that can be dealt with later, I have also learned that praying audibly helps to minimize wandering thoughts...Ask. I ask for forgiveness for my sins, making every effort to be specific. I pray for the power to live a Christian life and ask God to give me a passion for His Word and for prayer. I ask for His will to be done in every aspect of my life: spiritually, physically, financially, relationally, vocationally, and emotionally...Yield. I must subordinate my requests to God's sovereign will, trusting that He knows what is best. I strive to maintain a 'nevertheless' attitude. Therefore, I am careful fo conclude my prayer by saying, 'Nevertheless, not my will, Lord, but Yours be done' [see Lk 22-42]...The old adage that it is not what you know but whom you know that gives you the advantage in a situation is true--especially from a spiritual perspective. When we have a relationship with God, we understand that He is sufficient to handle any demand placed upon us."

This Message Was Taken From: Daily Devotional - A Word For You Today.

To have a personal relationship with someone, there must be two-way communication. Even the most uncommunicative husband has to grunt every once in a while, or it isn't a marriage-it's a monologue. So, the Lord being with you, and you being with the Lord, takes place primarily in your mind. Two people may occupy the same room, but if one of them is sleeping or engrossed in television, they're not really with each other. There must be interactive awareness. Now, as human beings, we don't have "direct access' to each other's thoughts. We can use words, human touch, or hand gestures to guide another person's thoughts. But God is infinite rather than finite, so He is able to guide our thoughts directly. He can speak to us through Scripture or through the words of another person. But He can also plant His thoughts directly in our minds. "We have the mind of Christ' (1Co 2:16 NKJV). And this can happen anytime, anywhere. So, your mind is your meeting place with God! There's much about God speaking to you that's a mystery. There are no formulas. You cannot control God's communication with you. You cannot force Him to speak by being more pious or more sincere or by working hard. Jesus told Nicodemus: The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit (In 3:8 NKJV). This much you can be certain of today: God is with you, and He will speak to you if you take the time to listen.

“God speakerphone…in a dream, in a vision of the night.”  Job 33:14-15 KJV

Job the patriarch said: "For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night....while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men" (Job 33:14-16 NKJV). A dream can be an important message from God or an answer to your prayer. God gave Paul a dream in which a man from Macedonia appeared to him saying, "Come over and help us" (see Ac 16:9). And Paul went there and preached the gospel. Solomon's reign as king of Israel begins with these words: "In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee* (1Ki 3:5 KJV). Solomon asked God for great wisdom, and God gave him wisdom, honor, and riches. Would God still speak to us today in dreams?
Yes. He says: "I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal 3:6 KJV). The Hebrew word for dream is "chalom." It has five meanings: (1) "To bind firmly.". This pictures you being wrapped securely in God's love. (2) "To be or make plump." In the Bible, fatness or plumpness is a picture of health, well-being, and prosperity. (3) "A sense of dumbness." When God gives you a dream, He is sharing with you information about things of which you are ignorant.(4) "To be in good liking." When God gives you a dream, He is showing favor toward you. (5) "To recover." When God gives you a dream, He is working on restoring what you have lost. So, ask God for a dream.

Just before He was arrested and taken to the cross, Jesus prayed: "[Father], I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." When it comes to recognizing and responding to God's presence in our lives, Christian author, John Ortberg, says he lives by these twelve truths: (1) God is always present and active in my life, whether or not I see Him. (2) Coming to recognize and experience God's presence is learned behavior; I can cultivate it. (3) My task is to meet God in this moment. (4) I'm always tempted to live "outside" this moment. When I do that, I lose my sense of Gods presence. (5) Sometimes God seems far away for reasons I don't understand. Those moments, too, are opportunities to learn. (6) Whenever I fail, I can always start again right away. (7) No one knows the full extent to which a human being can experience God's presence. (8) My desire for God ebbs and flows, but His desire for me is constant. (9) Every thought carries a "spiritual charge" that moves me a little closer to or a little further from God. (10) Every aspect of my life, work, relationships, hobbies, errands-is of interest to God. (11) My path to experiencing God's presence will not look quite like someone else's. (12) Straining and trying too hard do not help. So, the word for you today is-God is working in you, with you, and through you!

“Is this not the fact that I have chosen.”  Isaiah 58:6 NKJV

God gave His people the following reasons for fasting: “To lose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke" (v. 6 NKJV). Fasting is one of the best ways to break the power of the flesh. If you can say no to food, you can say no to just about anything. No matter what addiciron you struggle with, fasting is the way to break the yoke of bondage. No matter what cause you care about, fasting invites the favor of God. When you abstain from food to seek God, it shows Him you're serious. And He takes you seriously if the cause honors Him. Some spiritual breakthroughs are possible only with the combination of prayer and fasting. When you fast and pray, the synergy is more than the sum of its parts. If you feel like your dream is in a holding pattern, try fasting. If your marriage is in trouble and you need things to turn around, try fasting. If your heart is breaking for your kids, try fasting. If you need a breakthrough, try fasting. If you need to make a big decision, try fasting. Fasting breaks strongholds and yields breakthroughs. It's the way we declare to God that. we need Him and want Him more than food itself. It takes tremendous discipline to give up food, but doing so cultivates discipline in other areas of our lives. The best way to kill sinful desires is by starving them to death. That's precisely what fasting does. It doesn't just weaken your physical body; it also weakens your sinful flesh and simultaneously strengthens your spirit.

She lived in Samaria, had been married five times, and was living with a man who was not her husband. Maybe gossipers wagged their tongues about her. How else would you explain her midday appearance at the well? Other women fill their buckets at sunrise, but this woman opted for noon, preferring the heat of the sun over the heat of their scorn. Were it not for the appearance of a stranger, her story would have been lost in the Samaritan sands. But He entered her life with a promise of living water that would quench the thirst of her soul. He wasn't put off by her past. He told her: "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst'...The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 'Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ? Then they went out of the city and came to Him...And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, 'He told me all that I ever did'" (In 4:13-15, 28-30, 39 NKJV). No one else was willing to give her a chance, but Jesus gave her the chance of a lifetime. And what He did for her, He will do for you.