Don't Force It

Let God show you the way - Then you'll never be lost.

Today’s Scripture

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30 – Msg)

Today’s Word

One of the many great things about God is that He never forces you to believe in Him. He will never make you feel guilty, bad or invalidated because of past mistakes or “man made” rules. God is always inviting, generous and loving but never forceful, He’s very patient. He calls you into friendship with Him and gives you His very best, and all the time never forcing it upon you. This week, why not give God your very best and trust Him unconditionally with your entire life, you’ll feel so close to Him and so much better after you do. Tell Him alone your inner-most secrets, fears, joys and plans, He’s eager to listen. Then, let God lead you to live the most gratifying and joy-filled life you can ever imagine, a life filled with promises from God Himself. And remember; when you have to force anything, maybe it wasn’t meant to be.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, today is the day, no more procrastination, please come into my heart, be my Lord and my Savior, forgive my sins and give me a new life, a new beginning and a fresh start that will bring glory to Your Holy Name. Today is the day that I surrender my life to You and begin living the life You created me to live. In Jesus Name – Amen.

The Whisper

Keep an open heart

Today’s Scripture

"What I tell you now in the gloom, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, proclaim from the housetops!” Matthew 10:27 – TLB

Today’s Word

It is in the whisper that you hear God the loudest. The gentleness of His grace rings forth unto the ears that are willing to listen. Do you have a desire to hear God? Ask Him, “Lord, speak to me, I am willing to listen to all of Your Words. Fill me with that which will nourish my soul and mature the spirit within me.” When you have the heartfelt desire to hear God, not for what you want, need or can achieve, but for who He is and for who He will reveal you are, then you can expect to hear the voice of God. When you spend time in His Word, it is there that will you hear “The Whisper”, it is on your knees seeking His fellowship that you will hear “The Whisper”, it is when you cry out for His direction and forgiveness that you will hear “The Whisper”, and it is in the moment of healing that you will hear “The Whisper” that say’s, “I am here”.

Shhhhhhh, do you hear “The Whisper” calling you today?

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, I long to hear Your voice in all of its beauty, let it ring forth in my heart that I may forever be guided by Your instructions and leading. May I be healed by Your assurance, restored by Your Word and raised by Your call. Let Your voice be my guide throughout the day. I pray in the Name that is above all other names, Jesus’ – Amen.

Become What You Believe

Today's Scripture

But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." [Luke 18:27 NKJV]

Today's Word

In the New Testament, there is a fascinating account of two blind men who heard that Jesus was passing by, and faith began to rise in their hearts. They must have thought, We don't have to stay like this. There's hope for a better future. So they began to cry out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" [Matthew 9:27].

When Jesus heard their cries, He posed an intriguing question, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Jesus wanted to know whether they had genuine faith. The blind men answered, "Yes, Lord; we believe." The Bible says, "Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith and trust and reliance [on the power invested in Me] be it done to you; and their eyes were opened".

Notice, it was their faith that brought them the healing. The Message says, "[Jesus] touched their eyes and said, 'Become what you believe.'" What a power statement! Become what you believe! What are you believing? Are you believing to go higher in life, to rise above your obstacles, to lighten up by giving God your heavy burdens, to live in health, abundance, healing, and victory? You will become what you believe.

You don't have to figure out how God is going to solve your problems or bring it to pass. That's His responsibility. Your job is to believe. What you believe has a much greater impact on your life than what anybody else believes.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, Your Word is like a lamplight to my feet, a breath of fresh air for my soul, refreshing water on a hot day that quenches my thirst. Forever, shall I dwell in Your House surrounded by Your glory and rejoicing in Your mercy for You alone are the One that I place my trust, hope and faith. In Jesus name. Amen.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE RELATING TO TODAY'S TOPIC:
Genesis 16:1-16, Exodus 14:1-31, Matthew 3:1-17, 1 Corinthians 4:1-21, Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 9:14-29, Romans 14:1-23, Luke 17:1-10, Romans 5:1-11, Hebrews 10:19-39, Hebrews 11:1-40, Genesis 12:2.

Sent to Save

Today's Scripture

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him." [John 3:16-18 - The Message]

Today's Word

One day many years ago something happened in my life that would change me and the world around me forever. I found myself in the battle of a life time. As a teenager, I had survived two tours in Viet-Nam, but I thought losing my wife, my job and all of my friends was more than I could ever bear. I felt alone, used, abandoned, lost, without hope and frankly there were times I felt like giving up. That was until one day when my seven year old daughter Lisa [now 35] walked into the room in which I was sitting and told me, "Daddy, God loves you and he needs you very much, and so do I!" That day I cried my eyes out and realized just how selfish I really was and I didn't even know it. If someone else would have told me what I had just heard, I do not think I would have ever listened. That day my life took on a profound change and now thousands across the globe have received the message of Hope all because God had put his Words in a little girls' mouth. She was sent to save.

You are one-of-a-kind. There is no one else on the earth just like you. You have been [created] saved-to-serve. That's right. God created you, just like his own Son, to bring his message of direction, hope and promise to this messed-up and very confused world. Even your address is not an accident, you are where you are for a reason, to bring God's message to your own kitchen table - your family. It begins right where you live. Set aside some "quiet" time and learn the message of Christ [not religion] by spending a little time each day in the Word of God. Then, in your own unique way teach that message, just like Jesus did, to your loved ones. You taught them to walk, talk, catch a ball, swim, read and eat, so why not teach them something they are going to need long after you are gone - it will change their life forever, maybe for eternity.

Remember: You have been given a Gift to share not throw away into the air, it may just save someone's life.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, Your Words are like a lamplight for my feet. Lead me, guard me and guide me as I draw closer to You each day. In Jesus name. Amen.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE RELATING TO TODAY'S TOPIC:
Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 7:7-14, John 3:1-21, John 6:60-71, Ephesians 2:1-10, Luke 13:22-30, Luke 14:15-24, John 17:1-5, Acts 2:14-41, Romans 10:1-15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.

What Matters Most

Today's Scripture

"In this new life one's nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all." [Colossians 3:11 - TLB]

Today's Word

Someone recently asked me a very difficult question to which there was a very simple answer. "Why do I always want more?" I responded, "Because you have never discovered what really matters most."

A Prayer for Today

Lord, thank you for Christ, for without him, surely I would be lost, wondering, hopeless and afraid. He is my strength, my Rock, my hope and my salvation. It is in him that I see You. I Jesus name. Amen.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE RELATING TO TODAY'S TOPIC:
John 1:1-18, Mark 1:9-13, Matthew 16:13-20, Luke 8:40-56, Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:21-28, Luke 9:28-36, Mark 16:1-8, Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 27:57-66, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-9, Matthew 4:12-25, Matthew 5:1-20, John 14:1-14, John 11:17-44, Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 4:12-25, Mark 10:13-16, Mark 3:7-19, Luke 9:18-27, Luke 11:29-32, Galatians 2:11-21, Philippians 2:5-11.

Paid in Full

Today's Scripture

“I've blotted out your sins; they are gone like morning mist at noon! Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." [Isaiah 44:22 - TLB]

Today's Word

Some years ago I invited my family to dinner as we celebrated my birthday at one of the most expensive restaurants in all of New York City, The Plaza Hotel. Everything went so great that night. We ate incredibly well, enjoyed some of the best food in the world, wonderful desserts and entertainment that was priceless. At the end of the evening I asked the maître d’ for the check and to my surprise he told me the bill had been paid. I was shocked and asked, “Who paid the bill?” He bent down to my ear and whispered, “Your father paid for everything.”

You have been given the free-gift of life which is beyond explanation. You have been given power over sin and even death. Your Father has given you the authority to multiply, to create, to live, to discover and to heal. You have been given all that your Father owns because of his unmatched love for you. But most important you have been given an invitation from your Father to walk with him forever. That wasn’t always possible, because of ancestral defiance to God and because of your own unintentional blemishes. Although sometimes you may not understand it all, the fact is, God’s Word say’s someone had to pay for everything which no man could afford. So, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to Calvary to pay the bill so that you can live forever in God’s Kingdom.

Have a “Good Friday” the bill has been paid by your Father.

A Prayer for Today

Father, today I step out in faith and trust that your Word is truth, and while I may not understand it all, I accept that Jesus is the Savior of the world, that he alone paid for my sins and I have been forgiven through your grace and mercy and received the free gift of eternal-life. In Jesus name. Amen.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE RELATING TO TODAY'S TOPIC:
Isaiah 53, John 3, Matthew 27, Mark 14, 15, Luke 22, 23, John 19.

Surrender

Today's Scripture

“Then Jesus told him, "I have come into the world to give sight to those who are spiritually blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind." The Pharisees who were standing there asked, "Are you saying we are blind?" "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But your guilt remains because you claim to know what you are doing." [John 9:39-41]

Today's Word

It is common when a person is drowning that the victim does not always cooperate with their rescuer. Often, in an attempt to save them self, the victim fights the very one sent to save their life.

Like the person drowning, there are times you may find yourself struggling physically, psychologically or spiritually and unknowingly, in a moment of panic, you attack those trying their very best to help you.

Professional rescuers are taught there are times you just have to let the person go down before you can pull them up.

God knows when you have had enough. He may even allow you to go down further, in order to save you in the end. The more you struggle with your Savior [rescuer], not trusting him, the longer the rescue is going to take.

When a person has a “spirit-of-control”, [ego] which emanates from fear, there is little that can be done to help them at that moment. Once [ego] is surrendered, through trust, they can begin to live a new life in the fullness of the Creators design.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, sometimes I do not realize I am struggling and fighting against those You have sent to help me. As Your Son Jesus completely trusted you, even to the Cross, give me the strength to surrender my all and all to You. In Jesus name. Amen.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE RELATING TO TODAY'S TOPIC:
Judges 15:1-20, 1 Samuel 15:1-35, Matthew 3:1-17