"You have heard that it was said...But I say to you."   Matthew 5:21-22 NKJV

Around the turn of the nineteenth century, a Russian physician named Ivan Pavlov A won a Nobel Prize for his experiments with dogs. All of them had one thing in common--they salivated around food. But Pavlov wanted to find out if salivation could be caused by another stimulus, so he conditioned the dogs by ringing a bell before feeding them. Eventually the dinner bell caused salivation, even if the food wasn't served. Pavlov referred to this learned relationship as a conditioned reflex. We have all been consciously or subconsciously conditioned our entire lives. Much of our behavior was dictated by those conditioned reflexes. Some conditioned reflexes are as normal and natural as a blush.
Others are as destructive as drinking to drown your sorrows. But conscious or subconscious, harmless or harmful, one thing is certain: we are far more conditioned than we realize. And one dimension of our spiritual growth is being reconditioned by the grace of God. Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said...But I say to you." Jesus uses this couplet repeatedly. What was He doing? He was uninstalling Old Testament applications and reinstalling New Testament truths. It was no longer "An eye for an eye." Jesus upgraded it to "Turn to them the other cheek," which required reconditioned reflexes (See Matthew 5:38-39 NIV).  Sometimes it's much easier to act like a Christian than to react like one. How does this change in our reactions take place? By the Holy Spirit. "We are being changed to be like him Jesus. This change...comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2Corintjians 3:18 NCV).

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all."         Matthew 12:15 KJV

Do you find yourself wondering if Jesus is willing to heal you? Let's look at the ministry of Jesus Christ, whom the Bible says is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV). That means if He did it before, He will do it again. As you read about the many healings and miracles Jesus performed on a continual basis, it will cause your faith to grow and your expectation to rise. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17 KJV). Throughout the gospels, people with various sicknesses went to Jesus for healing. Some were near death, and some were actually dead. There were people with strong faith, and others who struggled to believe. All the people Jesus healed were unsaved, as Jesus had not yet purchased salvation on the cross. The keys to every one of these miracles are: (1) Those who were sick made sure they were in the presence of Jesus; (2) They willingly received His word and acted on it. Read about some of the miracles Jesus performed: (1) Simon's mother-in-law healed of a fever (see Matthew 8: 14-15); (2) The resurrection of Jairus's daughter (see Mark 5:21-24, 35-43); (3) Healing of the woman with the issue of blood (see Mark 5:25-34); (4) A deaf man healed (see Mark 7:32-37);
(5) A severed ear restored (see Luke 22:47-51); (6) A blind man healed (see John 9:1-41).
Jesus never said no to a cry for help and healing: "Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all" (Matthew 12:15 KJV). And what He did for them, He can do for you if you pray and believe His Word.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"He has created us anew in Christ Jesus... to do the good things he planned for us."
Ephesians 2:10 NLT

A farmer once caught a young eagle in the forest, brought it home, and raised it among
his chickens and turkeys. Five years later, a naturalist came to visit him and saw the bird. "That's an eagle, not a chicken!" he said. "Yes," said the farmer, "but l've raised it to be a chicken." The naturalist said, "It has a wingspan of fifteen feet. It's an eagle!" The farmer said, "But it will never fly." The naturalist disagreed, and they decided to put their argument to the test. First, the naturalist picked up the eagle and said, "Thou art an eagle; thou dost belong in the sky and not to this earth; stretch forth thy wings and fly." The eagle saw the chickens and jumped down. The next day, the naturalist took the eagle to the top of the house, said the same thing, and let the eagle go. Again, it spotted the chickens below and fluttered down to join them in feeding. "One more try," said the naturalist. He took the eagle up a mountain. The trembling bird looked around, and then the naturalist made it look into the sun. As he spoke its true identity once more, suddenly the eagle stretched out its wings, gave a mighty screech, and flew away, never to return. You must know who God created and called you to be. And that takes place in the right environment, the right company, and with the right input--God's input! He has created us anew in Christ Jesus... [to] do the good things He planned for us."


This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"I can do all things through Christ."   Philippians 4:13 NKJV

Consider these examples of resistance to inventions that we now consider commonplace , and enjoy every day: In Germany, "experts" said that if trains went as fast as fifteen to twenty miles an hour--considered a frightful speed--blood would spurt from the travelers' noses and passengers would suffocate when going through tunnels. In America, experts said the introduction of the railroad would require the building of many insane asylums, since people would be driven mad with terror at the sight of the locomotives. When the idea of iron ships was first proposed, experts insisted that they would not float, it would be difficult to preserve the iron bottom from rust, and that iron would play havoc with compass readings. In 1797, when the first cast-iron plow was invented, farmers in New Jersey rejected it, saying the cast iron would poison the ground and stimulate the growth of weeds. When the YMCA in New York welcomed the invention of the typewriter and announced typing lessons for women, protests erupted on the grounds that the female constitution would break down under the strain. Now consider these statements, each of which is a product of a negative mindset: (1) "Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible" (Lord Kelvin, President, Royal Society, 1895).  (2) "Man will never tap the power of the atom" (Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize winner in physics, 1923). (3) "Everything that can be invented has been invented" (Charles H. Duell, U.S. Patent Office Director, 1899).
If you want to accomplish great things and be used by God, become an "I can" person.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?"
Proverbs 20:24 NLT

Marian wanted to become a concert singer, a challenge that was doubly difficult because of the color of her skin. Her mother, however, had a patient trust in God.
Marian later said, "Mother's religion made her believe she could receive what was right for her if she, was conscientious in her faith. If it did not come, it was because God had not considered it right for her. We grew up in this atmosphere of faith that she created...
We believed as she did, because we wanted the same kind of haven in the time of storm." When Marian was denied admission to a famous music conservatory on account of her race, her mother said, "Someone would be raised up" to help her accomplish what she hoped to do at the conservatory. That someone arrived a few weeks later. One of Philadelphia's outstanding voice teachers, Giuseppe Boghetti, made room for her to become one of his students. And Marian Anderson was on her way to becoming one of the most popular singers of the twentieth century. On Easter Sunday in 1939, she sang to seventy-five thousand people at the Lincoln Memorial and gave a performance never to be forgotten by those present. Solomon said these two things about God's guiding hand in our lives: (1) "The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?"
(2) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take" (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT).

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"We will reap a harvest if we do not give up."        Galatians 6:9 NIV

The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom beyond our knowledge, power beyond our strength,
and gifting beyond our ability. With His help, we become better than our best effort and better than our best thought. We become the best version of ourselves possible. Of course, this takes a lifetime. Hence, Paul wrote: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." It's hard to imagine a farmer planting a crop of beans and then being surprised that it didn't produce corn.
Why? Because you reap what you sow. Yet some of us seem shocked when the seeds of sin yield their crop. So, what are you planting? Love or hate? Joy or ingratitude? Patience or impatience? Self-control or self-indulgence? You cannot break the law of sowing and reaping, but it can break you or make you—if you keep sowing the right seeds. Want a bumper crop? Then you need more of the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit can't fill you if you're full of yourself. So, a prerequisite to having more of the Holy Spirit is being honest, being humble, and being hungry. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the nine fruits the Holy Spirit produces in our lives. So, if you want more of the Holy Spirit, it means you literally want more love, more joy, more peace, more forbearance, more kindness, more goodness, more faithfulness, more gentleness, and more self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). The good news is, you can have as much of the Holy Spirit as you want.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"The Helper, the Holy Spirit... will teach you all things."     John 14:26 NKJV

Jesus said: "The Helper, the Holy Spirit... will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." When you need to make a critical decision, you need "the spirit of wisdom and revelation" (Ephesians 1:17 NKJV). When you're in a difficult situation and unsure of what to say: "Just say whatever is given to you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit" (Mark 13:11 NIV). When you find it hard to show love? "The fruit of the Spirit is love" (Galatians 5:22 NIV). The same is true with every fruit of the Spirit. Do you need to overcome an addiction? "The fruit of the Spirit is... self-control"
(v. 22-23 AMPC). Of course, that's an oxymoron because it doesn't come from you. It's the Spirit who manufactures it, so it's really Spirit-control. What you need more of is the Holy Spirit. And for the record, the Spirit of God doesn't just want to fill you; He also wants to stretch you and increase your capacity. If you feel like your life is in chaos today, the Spirit of God is hovering--just as He did at the dawn of creation when He brought light out of darkness, order out of chaos, and beauty out of nothingness (see Genesis 1:1-3). No matter what question you have, the Holy Spirit is the answer. No matter what problem you face, the Holy Spirit is the solution. You need as much of him as you can get, so you need to yield as much of yourself to Him as you can.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"Be strong and courageous!"        Joshua 1:9 NLT

When God told Joshua, "Be strong and courageous," the word be really means
become. It's not like a computer in which you enter a password and "hey, presto!" you're courageous. Courage is a quality you grow into. Like filling bigger shoes, the more you walk in them, the more comfortable they become. Joshua had already been to the Promised Land. He knew there were seven nations to be conquered. He was well aware of the problems he'd have to face. So, God said: (1) "Do not be afraid of those nations, for the Lord...is among you, and he is a great and awesome God" (Deuteronomy 7:21 NLT). The job you're about to take on may look more like a battlefield than a bed of roses, but God will be with you. He will give you solutions for the problems and strength for the battles.
(2) "The Lord your God will drive those nations out ahead of you" (Deuteronomy 7:22 NLT). God will go ahead of you and arrange everything. He will help you make the right connections and provide you with the needed resources. (3) "The Lord... will drive those nations out... little by little. You will not clear them away all at once" (v. 22 NLT). God works in us one area at a time. Life's not one big battle; it's a series of small daily struggles required to defeat the enemies that stand in your way. Twenty-three chapters later, God was still telling Israel to be courageous. Courage is like oxygen; you can't survive without it. It's not the absence of fear; it's the conquest of it. Courage means doing it afraid until you conquer your fear.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"Perfect love drives out fear."                    1 John 4:18 NIV

Research showing that love mindsets are the norm while fear mindsets are learned is revolutionary for scientists. But it's not new if you look at Scripture: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." Over the past several decades, scientists have researched the anatomy and physiology of love and fear. These are two different systems, and at any one conscious moment, we will be operating in one or the other.  Science is showing us that there is a massive "unlearning" of negative toxic thoughts when we operate in love. We can unlearn negative fear--it is not part of our innate natural functioning. Recent neuroscientific research demonstrates that some of the chemicals the brain releases when we are operating in love include oxytocin, which literally melts away the negative toxic thought clusters so that rewiring of new, non-toxic circuits can happen. This chemical also flows when we trust, bond, and reach out to others. So, choosing to operate in love can literally "drive out fear." Research also shows that when we do good things and reach out in love, endorphins and serotonin are also released. These detoxify our brains and increase our motivation and wisdom, helping us handle life more successfully. We see the profound consequences of choosing between love and fear in Scripture: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV). In Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT) we are told, "God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path." The choice is yours: walk in fear or walk in love.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today
 

"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."       Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

In March 1987, Eamon Coughlan was running in the qualifying heat at the World Indoor Track Championships in Indianapolis. He was the reigning world record holder at 1500 meters and was favored to win the race. Unfortunately, with two and a half laps left, he tripped and fell hard. But he got up, and with great effort managed to catch the race leaders. With twenty yards to go, he was in third place, which would have been good enough to qualify for the final race. Then Coughlan made a fateful mistake—he looked over his shoulder to the inside. Seeing no one there, he relaxed his effort slightly. What he hadn't noticed was that a runner was charging hard on the outside. This runner passed him just a yard before the finish line, eliminating him from the finals. Coughlan's great comeback effort ended up being worthless for only one reason: He momentarily took his eyes off the finish line and focused on the would-be competitors behind him. 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." A "weight" refers to things that are legitimate but can slow you down. A "sin" refers to something illegitimate that you know to be wrong and can cost you the race. So lay them both aside and "run with endurance the race that is set before [you], looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (vv. 1-2 NKJV).


This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."
Ephesians 3:20 NIV

Prayer Pastor Heidi Scanlon said: "God has blessings for us in categories we don't even know exist." That means God can create something out of nothing. He can seemingly come out of nowhere, and just when you need Him most, give you something you don't even have a category for. God says: "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways', declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV).
You say, "If God has blessings that I don't even have categories for, how can I ask for them?" That's where the Holy Spirit, who dwells within you, comes to your aid: "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us... in accordance with the will of God' (Romans 8:26-27 NIV). And because the Holy Spirit prays in accordance with the will of God, you are blessed with wisdom beyond your knowledge, power beyond your strength, and favor beyond your ability. Paul put it this way: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV). Now you still must do your due diligence, for God cannot bless negligence. But when you know you've faithfully done your part and obeyed God, you can trust Him for blessings beyond your imagination.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."  1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV
 
Back in the days of the great western cattle ranches in America, a little burro would
sometimes be harnessed to a wild horse and then turned loose onto the range. The wild horse would drag the burro for miles, throwing him around like a bag of feed. In several days, however, they would return. The little burro would be seen first, trotting back toward the ranch with his submissive steed in tow. Somewhere out in the wild, the horse would become exhausted and try to free itself of the burro. At that moment, the burro became the master of the two. The slow, patient, unimportant animal became the leader over the faster, more volatile, and more prized one. What made the difference?  Having a steadfast purpose! And what was the burro's purpose? Going back home to the ranch! So no matter how many times they fought, tugged on the rope, and ended up on their backs kicking and fuming, each time the burro got back on his feet, he would take a few more steps in the direction of the ranch. It was only a matter of time until the tired and exhausted horse decided to join him. One of the great themes of Scripture is having a steadfast purpose. Samuel told the Israelites: "Do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver" (1 Samuel 12:21 NKJ). Isaiah wrote: *I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed" (Isaiah 50:7 NKJV). Paul wrote: "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"Joshua...lifted his eyes...and behold, a Man stood opposite him."  Joshua 5:13 NKJV

In late January 1956, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received a threatening telephone call at his house. It was not the first foreboding message he'd received. But on this night, as his children and his wife lay sleeping, the weight of the Civil Rights Movement was too heavy. He decided that the risk was too great. He began to map out an exit strategy. At midnight he bowed over the kitchen table and began to pray, "I am afraid. The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I've come to the point where I can't face it alone." King described what happened next. "I experienced the presence of the Divine as  I have never experienced Him before. It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying: 'Stand up for righteousness, stand up for truth; and God will be at your side forever.'"  When facing a daunting challenge, Dr. king shifted his focus and turned to God. The Bible says: "When Joshua was by Jericho... he lifted his eyes... and behold, a Man stood opposite him." After Joshua lifted his eyes from Jericho, a divine messenger stood before him with the solution to his problem. As long as your eyes are only on your problem, you won't see your problem solver. You must look up. "I will lift up my eyes to the hills-from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord" (Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV).

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"The Lord said to Joshua: 'See! I have given Jericho into your hand.'"  Joshua 6:2 NKJV

Here's what you need to know about the walls of Jericho: They were immense. They
wrapped around the city like a suit of armor, forty feet above the ground They were impenetrable. Here is what you need to know about Joshua: He didn't bring the walls down--God did. And God will do that for you too. Your Jericho is your fear, anger, bitterness, or prejudice. It's also your insecurity about the future: your guilt about the past; and your negativity, anxiety, and proclivity to criticize, over-analyze, or compartmentalize. Your Jericho is any circumstance, attitude, or mindset that keeps you from joy, peace, or rest. Jericho blocks your way, so its wails must fall! "Go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess" (Joshua 1:11 NKJV). The verb translated as "possess" means to occupy by driving out previous tenants and possessing in their place." But Satan won't leave without a fight. He will resist. He will push back. But he will not win. Why? Because God has already declared that you are the victor "The Lord said to Joshua: 'See l have given Jericho into your hand.'" god did not say. Joshua, take the city." God said, "Joshua, receive the city I have taken." The same can be said about you and your challenge. You say, "If God has done it for me, what do I have to do?"  (1) Receive your victory by faith, just as you received your salvation. (2) Speak victory. Be sure your words line up with God's words. (3) Walk out your victory, one day at a time.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"    
Psalm 119:103 NKJV

In ancient Jewish culture, formal education began at six years of age. Jewish boys enrolled
in the local synagogue school called bet sefer, which means "house of the book."  By the time they graduated four years later, they had memorized the entire Torah--every jot and title of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy was engraved on their cerebral cortex via memorization. There goes our excuse for not being able to remember, right?  According to tradition, the rabbi would cover the students' writing slates with honey on the first day of class. Then the rabbi would instruct his class to lick the honey of their slates while reciting Psalm 119.103: "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (NKJV). That was the first and perhaps most important lesson in their entire education. The rabbi wanted his students to fall in love with the Word of God.  He wanted them to taste and see that the Word is good (see Psalm 34:8). Jeremiah thought so: "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV). David said: "The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119.130 NKJV).  Solomon said: "For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV). When you acquire a taste for God's Word, the Holy Spirit, who is the author of the Word, will do two things for you.  First, He will reveal it to you.  Second, He will remind you of it.


This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"By this you shall know that the living God is among you."     Joshua 3:10 KJV

As the Jordan River swelled to a mile in width, crossing it was no small task.
Especially with millions of people! God said, "Go over this Jordan, you and all this people" (Joshua 1:2 NKVJ). Do you think they were scared? Would you have been? "The feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water" (Joshua 3:15 NKJV). It was the smallest of steps, but with God, the smallest step of faith can activate the mightiest of miracles. As they touched the water, the flow stopped as if someone had shut off the water main. Next, we read: "All Israel crossed over on dry ground" (v. 17 NKJV). By performing this miracle, God wanted them to know: "By this you shall know that the living God is among you." For Joshua's people, assurance came as they stood on dry land looking back at the Jordan. For us, assurance comes as we stand on the finished work of Christ and look back at the cross. Let the cross convince you. Be settled about God's faithfulness. The psalmist describes a person of faith this way: "He is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him" (Psalm 112:7 TLB). Life has many unanswered questions, but God's promise to save you needn't be one of them. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32 NKJV). Rest in your redemption. The past is past. Your future is bright.


This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you."       Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Dr. George Washington Carver overcame racial prejudice and became an educator, scientist, and inventor who was honored by the U.S. Congress. He was also a follower of Christ. And here's what he had to say about prayer: "My prayers seem to be more of an attitude than anything else. I indulge in very little lip service, but ask the Great Creator silently, dally, and often many times a day to permit me to speak to Him... ask Him... to give me wisdom, understanding, and bodily strength to do His will; hence I am asking and receiving all the time." Carver gave the world many inventions and was most famous for what he could do with a peanut. He stood on the truth of these Scriptures: "I will go before you and make the crooked places straight" (Isaiah 45:2 NKJV). "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV). "Fear not, for l am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand' (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV). Pay particular attention to Carver's words: "I am asking and receiving all the time." Prayer was not his last resort, but his first choice. To him, it was more than religious ritual; it was a means of constant communication with the God he loved sometimes talking and sometimes listening, but at all times sensitive to and aware of the presence of God. And daily prayer should be that for you too.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

One standing alone can be...defeated, but two can...conquer."  Ecclesiastes 4:12 TLB

Solomon wrote: "One standing alone can be...defeated, but two can stand back to-back and conquer." What Solomon is saying is this: "Be a team player." Deuteronomy 32 speaks of one person chasing 1,000 and two putting 10,000 to flight (v. 30). The lesson is that two working together will be ten times more effective than one going solo. Teams create synergy. The best explanation of synergy is that a hand is more effective than five fingers working independently of each other. When the press interviewed Edmund Hillary regarding the key to his success in being the first to reach the top of Mount Everest, his response was inspiring: "Our greatest strength on Everest in 1953 was our very strong team spirit. Individually, as mountaineers, we were not particularly expert people. We were competent climbers, but we worked together, and we were determined that someone should get to the top. All of us, of course, wanted to be that one, but it was even more important that someone in the group reached the summit. In modern-day climbing, this team spirit is not quite so common. There are many more prima donnas in the modern climbing fraternity, people who have great skills and great individualism but who may not work together as enthusiastically as we did. The truth is that no individual is as smart and strong as all of us are as a group. Or to put it in the words of Dr. John Maxwell: "Teamwork makes the dream work." So be willing to sacrifice your personal agenda for the greater good that can be accomplished only by a team.


This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord."    Psalm 5:3 NKJV

How do you start your day with God? If you're not a "morning person," don't put pressure on yourself to have an extended time of reading Scripture and praying first thing in the morning. Frank Laubach, a modern-day master of practicing the presence of God, said, "If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are." Instead of forcing yourself in the morning, try to arrange--as early as you can after you wake up--to have just a few minutes alone with God. Do three things: First, acknowledge your dependence on God. Second, tell Him about your concerns for the day. Third, invite God to spend the day with you. The Psalmist said, "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord...I will direct it to You, and I will look up." Then he added, "1 rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word" (Psalm 119:147 NKJV). So how can you start your day with God? Don't attempt to do a lot of new or heroic things. Just do the things you normally do--only do them with God. In our culture, we often talk about embracing the moment and seizing the day. But we are not meant to embrace moments; we are meant to embrace God. Moments are not always good; God is never anything but good. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!" (Psalm 118:1 NKJV). Remind yourself that today God is with you, and that He will be good to you and for you.


This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"We count them blessed who endure."            James 5:11 NKJV

James wrote: "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:10-11 NKJV). Here we are reminded to look back and be challenged and encouraged by those who went before us as we await the Lord's coming. Look back at Hosea: His wife deserted him, but he faithfully hung In there and God restored their marriage (see Hosea 3:1-3). Look back at Daniel: He was thrown into a lions' den for standing firm in his faith, but God delivered and promoted him (see Daniel 6:1-28). Look back at Jeremiah: He was arrested, accused of being a traitor, and thrown into a well to die (see Jeremiah 37-38). But he looked up, and God delivered him. Then there's the roll call of the faithful listed in Hebrews eleven! Those of us who have been rejected by family members can look back to Abel (see v. 4). Those who are misunderstood can look back to Noah (see v. 7). Those battling a crisis of faith and who seem to be up against the impossible can look back to Abraham (see vv. 8-10). If you've been used or abused, look back to Joseph (see v. 22). Those confronted by seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life can look back to Joshua (see v. 30). Those seeking to move beyond a sinful past can look back to Rahab (see v. 31). So, this is the word for you today: Look back and be encouraged.


This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"Then He said to the disciple [John], 'Behold your mother! And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home."      John 19:27 NKJV

The Bible says: "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother... When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then He said to the disciple (John), 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished...said.. 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit" (vv. 25-30 NKJV). Jesus was about to speak some of His last words as He hung on the cross. He was about to perform His last act. What would He do? What would He say? He had the power to call legions of angels to His defense, but He didn't. He could have explained the theology of His incarnation, His sinless life, and His vicarious death, but He didn't. This is what He spoke: "Woman, look--your son. Son, look--your mother." There is much discussion about how Mother's Day began, and where, and who was responsible for it. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. And in America, more phone calls are made on Mother's Day than any other day in the year. But the Scriptures indicate that Mother's Day began with Jesus, who honored His mother till His dying breath and who did all He could to care for her. And the Bible says: "He is your example, and you must follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21 NLT).

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit."
Romans 8:5 ESV

Neuroscientists tell us that every sound, every experience, every conscious thought, and every subconscious dream is recorded and literally engraved on our external hard drive, the cerebral cortex. Now juxtapose that with this: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5 NKJV). Simply put: the mind of Christ is the Word of God. After all, Jesus is "the Word" (John 1:1). When you pray, or meditate, or memorize Scripture, you are engraving Jesus on your brain. Neurologically speaking, you are recruiting new neuro connections and rerouting old ones. Slowly but surely, your brain is being rewired and renewed. Think of it as mind sync. You are downloading the very words, the very thoughts of God. And over time, those downloads are upgrades that form the mind of Christ in us. Note what author Mark Batterson says about how he reads the Bible, I continue until I come to any verse that may suggest pausing. It's often something I need to think about or pray about. Sometimes it's the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and I need to have a conversation with God before I continue... When I come to one of those verses, I do three things: First, I underline it or circle it in my Bible. Second, I write it out in longhand in my journal. Third, I journal thoughts, confessions, and ideas associated with it. Then, when I feel like the Holy Spirit brings closure, I go on to the next verse? Those are three great ideas that will work for you too.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today 

"He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness."    Colossians 1:13 NLT

Jimmy Wayne never knew his father, and his mother spent more time in prison than
out. When Jimmy was twelve, his mother was released from jail and took up with a troublemaker. They loaded him into the back seat of their car, and for a year that was his home. Then one day, they dumped him at a Pensacola, Florida, bus station and drove off. He had no home, no future, and no provision. While wandering through a neighborhood, he spotted an older man at work in a garage woodshop. He approached the elderly gentleman and asked if he had any work. Not only did he give Jimmy Wayne a job, but he also took him in to live with him and his wife. Having a home to live in was like heaven to Jimmy. Still, in spite of their kindness, he refused to unpack his bag.  For four days, his plastic bag sat on the floor, full of clothes, ready if the husband and wife changed their minds. It took several days, a dozen or so meals, and more than one heart-to-heart conversation. But they finally persuaded Jimmy to trust them to care for him. Perhaps you question your place in God's family or His love for you. What if He changes His mind? God answered that question at the cross. When Jesus died, the heavenly vote was forever cast in your favor. "He has rescued [you] from the kingdom of darkness and transferred [you] into the Kingdom of his dear Son." P.S.: What happened to Jimmy Wayne? He took his place in the family, got an education, and became a country music singer and songwriter.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me."        Psalm 56:9 NKJV

In the early days of America, a stranger asked how he might identify George Washington among those present at Congress. He was told. "You can easily distinguish him when Congress goes to prayer. Washington is the gentleman who kneels down." Washington was known as a man who prayed. When the fate of the new nation hung in the balance at Valley Forge, he frequently found rest and relief in prayer. One day, a farmer approaching Washington's military camp heard an earnest voice. When he drew nearer, he saw Washington on his knees, his cheeks wet with tears. The farmer returned home and told his wife: "George Washington will succeed, and the Americans will secure their independence." His wife said, "Isaac, what makes you think so?" He replied, "I heard him pray out in the woods today, and the Lord will surely hear his prayer. He will, Hannah, rest assured, He will!" When we have less, we're more aware of our need and pray more. But as we acquire and achieve more, we become more self-sufficient and pray less. That's a mistake. The more God entrusts to you, the more you need His strength, His wisdom, His guidance, and His grace. David sat on a throne and ruled Israel. Was he proud or arrogant? No. "When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me... In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid" (v. 9, 11 NKJV). So this is the word for you today: More responsibility calls for more prayer.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today

"You do not have because you do not ask."        James 4:2 NIV

From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion we see absolute evidence that God answers prayer. Things that we think are impossible, God does when people pray!
When we pray, we align ourselves with the purposes of God and tap into the power of the Almighty. Because we pray, God works through us in ways He wouldn't otherwise.
God has made certain things dependent upon prayer, things that will never be done unless we pray. Could God do whatever He chooses without our prayer? Of course.
But God has determined that He will use the prayers of His people to accomplish His purposes. When we do not pray, we limit what God will do in our lives. Some may not like the sound of this, but if it were not true, what could James mean when he writes:
"You do not have because you do not ask?" Why would Paul ask some friends to, "Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored... that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people" (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 NIV), if he did not believe their prayers had the power to change his circumstances? Both James and Paul believed that God might well withhold His hand of blessing from them if they neglected to pray.
Since they wanted all the blessing available to them, they not only prayed themselves, they recruited others to pray for them. They never wanted to limit what God might be pleased to do in and through them by failing to pray. And if you want all the blessing God has available, you too must pray.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today