365 Days of Praise
There’s No One Like the Comforter
Thank you for praying for God’s anointing on my speaking on, “Becoming a Leader of Passion and Power” at LIFT Arizona; that women’s ministry leaders would be encouraged, inspired, and equipped as they lead in their respective ministries.
On a cold winter evening nothing feels as cozy as snuggling in bed under the warmth of a soft comforter. The fact is, though, no blanket compares with who 2 Corinthians 1:3 describes as the God of All Comfort. Yes, when a person’s crisp tongue chills us to the core or the howling wind of despair blows through our heart, it is the God of all comfort who comforts us like no one else. The Greek word for comfort means “to call to one’s side, speak to, in the way of exhortation, console, teach.” How incredible that God gives every believer the gift of His presence through the Holy Spirit. Our Comforter is an abiding presence who will never wear out, never become threadbare, and never leave us. The more we cover our lives with His teachings, the more we’ll know the warmth of His presence.
Adapted from Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, page 67.
LORD, You are the God of all COMFORT! Thank You for the blessing of Your presence!
Check Your Closet Again
Have you ever thought about God in relation to your clothing? It’s an odd question, I know. But the Bible says that in addition to God’s many character traits that He is a clothier. A clothier is a person who makes, sells, or deals in clothes or cloth, and God fits that description from Genesis when He clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins to Revelation where our God clothes us in “fine linen, white and clean.” There’s an additional way our Heavenly Father clothes us. He clothes our innermost being. Galatians 3:27 describes believers as being “clothed with Christ.” Think about that. God could provide no finer clothing than for us to sport Christ’s righteousness. So, the next time you start to say, “I don’t have anything to wear,” remember…you do!
Lord God, we praise You for being our CLOTHIER, for covering us with Christ’s righteousness so we are not ashamed before You.
Check Out this Privilege
Isn’t it amazing that it is often human nature to reject what is good and gravitate toward that which is bad? Although it’s sad, it’s true. Peter calls believers to realize that the One people reject when they turn away from Christ “is choice and precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 2:4) The Greek words, “choice and precious,” mean that God appointed Jesus to the most exalted office conceivable.* He is held in honor and prized by His Father.** Continue reading in 1 Peter 2:5 and your heart can’t help but be warmed. Jesus is a choice and precious living stone and we are also living stones, being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood. For what purpose? “To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Oh my. So often we sacrifice for things on earth that are here today and gone tomorrow. But to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God. That is our privileged calling, my friend.
CHOICE AND PRECIOUS Savior, we love You and praise You! Center our eyes and sacrifices on You.
If We’re Smart…
Sheep. It’s been said they’re not the smartest animal in the world. That’s why they benefit from having a shepherd; someone to watch over them and care for them. In relation to God, we’re not always the smartest. That’s why we benefit from having a Shepherd of our soul; someone to watch over us and care for us. Matthew 9:36 records that our Shepherd, “Seeing the people, felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Mark 6:34 further explains, “…He began to teach them many things.” What is Jesus, the Chief Shepherd’s, (1 Peter 5:4 ) response to seeing us be distressed and dispirited? He teaches us what to do and how to live. Of all the voices vying for our attention, Jesus’s voice is the One we’re to follow. The Bible is His voice on paper. If we’re smart, we’ll read and follow His teachings.
Thank You, JESUS, CHIEF SHEPHERD of our souls, for looking on us with eyes of compassion and for teaching us.
When Did You Become Christ’s Bride
Where were you married? I was married in an outdoor tabernacle on a wooden pew when I was 12. Oh, I’m not talking about when I married my earthly husband, Keith. I’m talking about when Jesus took me as His bride. I was at a youth camp and the Holy Spirit convicted me during the evening service that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. I acknowledged my sin and confessed Jesus as my Lord and Savior. He drew me close. He took my hand in His nail-scarred hand. My Jesus betrothed me to Him in love and forgiveness before the Heavenly Father and angels. One day, I will see Him face to face. He is coming for me just as Matthew 25:6 says, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Now, I’d love for you to hit the reply button and tell me where you were married.
Jesus, You are the BRIDEGROOM, the Savior, of all who accept Your proposal to be saved. Thank You for coming to earth to save us. Thank You for loving us in spite of our sin. Thank You for preparing a place in heaven for us to live eternally with You as Your pure spotless bride. We rejoice and love You so much!
Guess Who Wins
Have you ever given your best effort at something, but failed? On the other hand, have you ever won a competition and been named the champion? Even the most humble of people want to win. We want to be on the winning team. Isaiah 19:20 has good news for Christians. “It will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.” Jesus is a Champion for the Jews, but He is also the Champion for all who call on Him for salvation. If you’re on Christ’s side, you’re on the right side. You may feel like you’re facing a losing battle, but the ultimate win is coming.
LORD, You are the CHAMPION over all creation. We celebrate You!
When You’re Filled with Anxiety
What do you do with worry? How do you respond when you get a bad diagnosis? To whom do you turn in the middle of the night when you’re afraid or sad? It’s normal to feel anxious, despair, and worry when our loved ones are ill or problems arise. But what Jesus wants us to know is that He’s with us and He cares for us. First Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our anxiety on Jesus because He cares for us. Just like a person casts a fishing line into the water, we can cast our anxiety on Jesus knowing that He cares for us and will see us through what we’re experiencing. How about casting your anxiety on Him right now in the form of a prayer. Tell Him all your anxious thoughts. Listen for how He prompts you to go forward.
Jesus, thank You for being a CARING LORD on whom we can cast our anxiety!
Whopper of a Problem?
Do you have a whopper of a problem? Perhaps you’re even where the Lord led you, but the situation is more than you can handle. When Joshua found himself in a tough place, the Lord appeared to him as Captain of the Lord’s Host. Listen to what happened. Joshua 5:14-15 states, “Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, ‘What has my lord to say to his servant?’ The Captain of the Lord’s Host said to Joshua, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” Did we get that? Joshua bowed down and said, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” The Lord told Joshua that the place he was standing was holy ground; then He told him what to do. Isn’t that the position we need to take not only when we’re faced with problems, but every day? Bow before the Lord. Ask, “what do You have to say to me?” Then, listen with the intention of obeying.
CAPTAIN of the HOSTS, we bow before You. Speak to our heart and mind. Tell us what to do.
Take a Look at This Star
THANK YOU for your prayers today as I speak on the topic, “Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion” for the TBC San Antonio Ladies Retreat; that God kindle believers’ passion to live for His glory!
FYI: You can help us get the P.R.A.Y. Conf to the LAST 2 Mainland STATES: Oregon and Maine, Please reply if you have a contact in one of them. The P.R.A.Y. Conf supports churches in the areas of discipleship, prayer, and evangelism. Christians are given equipping, inspiring tools to help them pray more purposefully and live more passionately for Christ.
Many people attempt to rise to “stardom.” Some do. But no one, not even the most famous person comes close to Jesus, who explains in Revelation 22:16, “I am the root and the descendant of David, the BRIGHT MORNING STAR.” Jesus tells us that HE is the STAR to whom we should look. He is the STAR on whom we can set the course of our life and know we will arrive safely on heaven’s shores. To whom might you need to point out this most fantastic of Stars?
Lord, we praise You, the BRIGHT MORNING STAR.
Are We or Aren’t We
God continues to spread the Word and love of Jesus!. If you haven’t liked our Ministry Page, please do HERE because every time you LIKE and share these devotionals, you help us reach people for Christ.
You’re Invited! Join me this Saturday, 9-2.
If someone were to ask you what makes your life, marriage, family, career, friendships “work,” what would you say? Are you successful because you’re a hard worker? You’re conscientious? You’re a good listener? It’s an important question. A more important question, though, is what makes your life, marriage, family, career, friendships work to the glory of God? Why is that an important question? Because if we are a Christian, 1 Corinthians 10:31 says that everything we do is to be to the glory of God. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Acts 4:11 reinforces this by saying Jesus is the stone that was rejected, but who became the CHIEF CORNERSTONE.” In other words, we’re to build our lives on Christ in such a way that they bring Him glory. If that’s not happening, we can begin drawing closer to Jesus.
JESUS, You are the Chief Cornerstone on whom we’re to build our lives and glorify You. Help us consider if we’re doing that and if not, how we can.