Jan 19 25
Make it a Priority
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 NKJV
This past Christmas season, I was having a difficult time keeping up with my regular exercise routine because I was so busy with holiday-related activities and responsibilities. I had so much to do that I wasn’t even getting the sleep that I needed. One morning, the Lord gently reminded me that I had been missing too many of my workouts. I asked Him how I was supposed to squeeze exercising in with everything else I had to do. That’s when He told me, “Make it a priority.” When I looked up the definition of “priority,” I found that the word comes from the word “prior,” which means “to come before something else.” So I began doing my workouts early in the day, before I went on to do other things.
One definition of “priority” is “the concern, interest, or desire that comes before all others.” I have discovered that when we make spending time alone with God each day a “priority,” every area of our lives is transformed, including our relationships – especially our relationship with God. The Lord doesn’t expect us to put Him first in our lives just because He wants to be closer to us – that’s a huge part of it. But He wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives so we can live the lives He has called us to – lives of freedom, wholeness, and excellence.
Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV) This tells us that there are great rewards awaiting us when we give the Lord first place in our lives. Let’s make 2025 our best year yet by making our God our highest priority!
Lord, teach me how to make You my highest priority every single day. Remind me daily to spend undistracted, unhurried time in Your presence and Your Word. Restructure my priorities according to Your perfect will and purpose. Thank You that as I seek first Your way of doing and being right, You will pour out Your blessings upon me in full measure! (Matthew 6:33 AMP)
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Jan 12 25
A Place of Abundance
“For You, O God, have tested us; You have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; You laid a crushing burden on our backs; You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet You have brought us out to a place of abundance.” Psalm 66:10-12 ESV
Even for the most devoted Christians, life has a way of pushing us down sometimes. That’s why we can relate to the verses above in one way or another. A loved one walks out on us. A grown child moves away. We lose a much-needed job. Our finances take a downturn. A debilitating illness overtakes us. And worst of all, some of the people we most need encouragement from are the ones who will kick us when we are down.
Fortunately, the Lord has good news for us in times like these. After He has allowed us to be “tested” and “tried,” He promises to “[bring] us OUT to a place of abundance.” In other words, God isn’t just going to deliver us from our troubles, but He is going to use our trials to position us to receive greater opportunities, blessings, and rewards than ever before. Our job during the hard times is to keep our trust in the Lord, and to believe that there is a treasure for us in every trial.
The Passion Translation reads, “Yet in the end You ALWAYS bring us out BETTER than we were before, saturated with Your goodness.” (v. 12) This is the promise of Romans 8:28 – that God will cause ALL things to work together for our good. So, keep your eyes on the Lord and His promises, and let Him lead you to a place of abundance!
Lord, help me to find the treasure in every trial. Remind me often that You are the ultimate Promise-Keeper, and that Your faithfulness to Your Word is guaranteed. When I am struggling, fill me with a fresh sense of hope and expectation. Thank You for bringing me out of every trial better than ever before!
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Jan 5 25
Keep on Being Glad
“I am going to keep on being glad, for I know that as you pray for me, and as the Holy Spirit helps me, this is all going to turn out for my good.” Philippians 1:19 TLB
I have many favorite Bible verses, but the one above holds a special place in my heart because it has gotten me through a lot of hard times. Every time I read it, I am reminded of the Lord’s precious promise in Romans 8:28 (NLT), which says: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” That means that even if the devil succeeds in messing up our lives or circumstances somehow, God will bring good out of it in a way that only He can. We can rest assured that just as the Lord has a plan for our lives, He has a plan for every circumstance we will ever face – and His plans are always to do us good, not harm. (Jeremiah 29:11)
I believe that it is absolutely essential for us to cooperate with God during our tests and trials. The apostle Paul gives us some insight as to how we can do this when he writes: “I am going to keep on being glad, for I know that as you pray for me, and as the Holy Spirit helps me, this is all going to turn out for my good.” (Philippians 1:19 TLB) While there is no substitute for seeking God in prayer on our own behalf, having fellow believers stand in faith with us can be a tremendous asset. If our trials are long and unrelenting, there may be times when it is difficult for us to pray in faith, and those are the times when it greatly benefits us to have other faith-filled believers interceding for us.
Paul goes on to mention the importance of our dependence upon the Holy Spirit for help. If we try to get through our trials in our own wisdom and strength, we will fail miserably. But if we rely on God’s guidance and grace, we will position ourselves for the Lord to direct our steps in the paths of victory. Scripture says: “If anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and He will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures, but He will overwhelm your failures with His generous grace.” (James 1:5 TPT) Hallelujah!
Notice how Paul says he’s going to “keep on being glad.” He knew that he didn’t have to wait for his deliverance in order to be joyful. As soon as he began trusting God to bring good out of his situation, he became filled with a sense of hope that produced abundant joy. Paul’s words in Romans 15:13 (NIV) bear this principle out: “May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Over the years, my family and I have witnessed time and time again how God can bring good out of even the most heartbreaking experiences. We have learned that when we put our trust in the Lord and maintain a hopeful attitude in adversity, He can turn our trials into triumphs. No matter what you are going through today, please know that God can supernaturally bring good out of it somehow. And He will do exactly that if you will adopt an attitude of the heart that declares – “This is all going to turn out for my good!”
Lord, when I am in the midst of heartbreaking circumstances, help me to turn to You in prayer, and show me who to seek out for prayer support. Teach me to rely on Your Spirit, and to trust You in a way that will enable me to wait for my miracle with joy. Thank You for working all things out for my good, and for Your glory!
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Dec 29 24
Pray for Comfort
“Now comfort me with Your faithful love, as You promised.” Psalm 119:76 ERV
The prayer-verse above is one that I have prayed hundreds of times over the years. The Lord taught me long ago to ask Him for comfort in good times and bad. Life has a way of pushing us down and making us feel defeated, discouraged, and depressed. Thankfully, Jesus came so that we could live abundant lives filled with His joy and peace in every circumstance.
One way we can live above our circumstances is to pray often for comfort. There are many promises of comfort in the Bible, but we don’t reap their benefits automatically. Often, we must ask the Lord for His own special kind of comfort, expecting Him to answer. God says in His Word, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” (Isaiah 66:13 NIV) So we can pray with confidence, “Lord, comfort me as a mother comforts her child.”
There are many reasons why God longs to comfort us, but one of them is so that we can turn around and comfort others when they are in need. “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT) Think about all the times when others were able to comfort you because of the comfort they received from the Lord when they were hurting.
Another reason why God desires to comfort us is so that others can see His favor on our lives. “Show me a sign of [Your evident] goodwill and favor, that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because You, Lord, [will show Your approval of me when You] help and comfort me.” (Psalm 86:17 AMP) When others see us going through hard times being helped and comforted by God Himself, we will be more powerful examples of His goodness and glory.
Scripture promises that when we ask the Lord for anything in line with His will, we can be certain of receiving what we prayed for. (1 John 5:14-15) So day and night, no matter what you are going through, you can pray with complete confidence – “Now comfort me with Your faithful love, as You promised!”
Lord, I am so grateful that Your Word says that You are the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3) When I am suffering in any way, remind me to seek You for Your supernatural comfort without hesitation. Thank You that as I receive the comfort that only You can give, others will take notice and want a relationship with You, too!
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Dec 22 24
You Should Pray
“Are any among you suffering? They should pray.” James 5:13 NRSV
Here is an invitation from our God to call upon Him when we are “suffering” in any way. It carries within it a promise from our Creator to respond and act on our behalf when we turn to Him in prayer.
Recently, I began having bouts of extreme fatigue that were greatly affecting my moods. I suffered in silence for a time, and then it dawned on me that the Bible said that if I am suffering in any way, “[I] should pray.” So, I turned to the Lord in prayer, and I asked for His wisdom and help. Afterwards, I began getting little impressions in my spirit that I needed to be drinking more water. Part of me thought that my problem couldn’t be so simple. But then I read an article saying that even when our bodies are only 1% dehydrated, it can negatively affect our moods and brain function, and can even cause debilitating fatigue. As I began hydrating myself more, my symptoms improved dramatically. And I thanked God for His wisdom and goodness.
Scripture says, “Call on Me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give Me glory.” (Psalm 50:15 NLT) One reason why the Lord invites us to call upon Him in times of suffering and trouble is that when He responds and intervenes on our behalf, He will be glorified.
The Living Bible translation of James 5:13 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? He should keep on praying about it.” I don’t know what you are facing today, but please don’t suffer in silence. Whether you are suffering physically, mentally, or emotionally, God already has a plan for your deliverance and healing. So “keep on praying,” dear one, knowing that your answer is on the way!
Lord, whenever I face suffering of any kind, please give me a Holy Spirit nudge to begin praying about it right away. Remind me to include prayers for wisdom and guidance, and make me sensitive and obedient to Your Spirit’s leading. Thank You that as I cooperate with You in this process, You will activate Your rescue operation on my behalf!
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Dec 15 24
God will Change Your Priorities
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NIV
Recently, my husband, Joe, and I were chatting about some of the home projects that he needed to tackle in the days ahead. He seemed focused on tasks that could be done at any time, but I was focused on projects that involved winterizing our home before we had any severe weather. We couldn’t agree on anything, so I decided to pray about the matter silently, and to leave it in God’s hands. When Joe complained about having a headache later that day, I put my hands on his shoulders and prayed aloud for his healing. Then I included a prayer asking the Lord to help my husband to properly prioritize his tasks. The very next day, I found Joe working on winterizing our home, and I thanked God for answering my prayers.
In Psalm 90:12 (NIV), Moses prayed, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” When I studied this verse out years ago, and realized that it was asking the Lord to help us to order our priorities properly, I began praying it for myself and my loved ones regularly. One thing that the Bible teaches us is how important it is for us to view life from God’s viewpoint, and to order our priorities accordingly. I often pray, “Lord, reorder my priorities according to Your will.” I have discovered that when we pray this way, we will often find that God will change our priorities!
The Living Bible translation of Psalm 90:12 reads, “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.” When we invite the Lord to help us to manage our time wisely according to His will and plans, He gets busy involving Himself with our work. No task is so small or inconsequential that our God doesn’t want to be invited to be a part of it. Scripture says, “Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], and your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].” (Proverbs 16:3 AMP) At home or on the job, ask the Lord for His wisdom and will, and watch your plans succeed!
Lord, please work in my heart and mind so that I will see everything and everyone from Your perspective from now on, and help me to act accordingly. I invite You to continually restructure my priorities as You see fit. Make me a faithful steward of all of my resources, including my time, my talents, and my treasure. Thank You that as I give You first place in every area of my life, You will bless all my efforts and crown them with success!
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Dec 8 24
Our Best Friend and Shepherd
“The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough.” Psalm 23:1 TPT
The Passion Translation is my new favorite translation of Psalm 23:1. It gives me fresh insights into what the young shepherd boy, David, must have meant when he wrote it. This Bible’s footnote for this verse reads: “The word most commonly used for ‘shepherd’ is taken from the root word ra‘ah, which is also the Hebrew word for ‘best friend.’ This translation includes both meanings.” Since I surrendered my life to Christ for real many years ago, I have considered Jesus my very best friend, so reading this footnote is a great encouragement to me.
I believe that one of the points that David is trying to make in this verse is that, because he has a deeply personal relationship with the Lord, he always has “more than enough.” In other words, David sees God as his Supplier and Provider. I love my husband, Joe, and he is my very best earthly friend, and second only to Jesus. Joe has been a faithful provider for our family for 50 years. But I do not see my husband as my source of supply. I see only Christ as my true Source. And this is one reason why I refuse to give in to fear or panic when we have financial or material needs of any kind. And if you are a follower of Jesus, you don’t have to fear, either.
I love how Jesus told His disciples before He went to the cross, “Now you are My friends.” (John 15:15 NLT) Think about that. If you are a born-again believer, you have access to the Son of God as your very best friend. And this is a gift from God Himself, as Scripture tells us: “He is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with His Son, even Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9 TLB)
You are never going to find a friend who is more loyal, loving, giving, or able than Jesus. And if you will walk closely with Him on a moment-by-moment basis – asking for His guidance and grace every step of the way – You will have everything you need to live the abundant life that He died to give you. (John 10:10) I can honestly say, “The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd.” Can you do the same?
Lord, today I receive You as my best friend and shepherd. Draw me into a deeply personal and eternal relationship with You. Work in my heart so that I will seek You first whenever I have a need of any kind. Teach me how to hear and heed Your voice in every situation and circumstance. Thank You that as I give You first place in my life, I will always have more than enough!
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Dec 1 24
The Season of Miracles
“For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.” Luke 1:37 AMP
Christmastime is often called the “Season of Miracles” because of the miraculous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ that we celebrate every year at this time. It is also the time of year when we are most likely to come across sermons and teachings encouraging us to pray bigger and bolder prayers, with a greater sense of expectation.
When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, the mother of Jesus, to announce to her that she would give birth to the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, Gabriel declared, “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.” (Luke 1:37 AMP) One of the most powerful principles contained in this Scripture is that when we pray God’s promises in faith, we can witness Him moving heaven and earth to fulfill that promise, even if it seems “impossible” to us or others. I have seen this happen in my own life and family many times, and it has encouraged me to pray God’s promises on a daily basis, even when the odds are vastly against them coming to pass.
In this same biblical passage, we see that the quality of our faith in the Word of God is a main factor in receiving the promises we pray: “You are blessed because you BELIEVED that the Lord would do what He said.” (Luke 1:45 NLT) When we desire to lay hold of a promise of God for ourselves or others, we must ask ourselves if we really believe that He is willing and able to fulfill His Word as a result of our petitions. Does that mean our faith has to be absolutely perfect? No. There may be times when we doubt, but then we can declare in all sincerity of heart – “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NIV) Then, the Holy Spirit will help us to get right back to believing.
I remember a time when I prayed for a miracle for a family member that I was sure would come to pass during one particular Christmas season. It didn’t happen, and I confess that my faith was shaken for a time. Then I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me that I had planted seeds of faith during that Christmastime that would bring a harvest of blessings and breakthroughs in the days ahead. One month later, God birthed a miracle that I knew might never have happened if I hadn’t released my faith during that previous Christmas season.
If you don’t receive your miracle before the end of this year, remember this: “Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive ALL that He has promised.” (Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT) A blessed Christmas season to you and yours!
Lord, I ask that You help me to cooperate with You for the growing of my faith in You and Your Word. Make me sensitive and obedient to Your Spirit’s leading so that I will always pray and stand on the promises that are Your will for me and mine. When doubts come, help me not to cast away my confidence in You and Your miracle-working power. Today, I thank You in advance for all of the blessings and breakthroughs that will be mine in the days ahead!
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Nov 24 24
Kingdom Blessings Here and Now
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3 NLT
Here is a promise from Jesus for special blessings from God to those who “realize their need for Him.” “Poor” in this verse means “poor in spirit,” as other translations say. It has nothing to do with our financial status, but everything to do with seeing ourselves as “without resources” apart from God, according to the biblical definition.
The more we realize our need for the Lord – and act accordingly – the more we will receive “Kingdom” blessings, not just in heaven, but here and now. In the business of daily living, the more we cry out to God for His wisdom, strength, peace, and joy, the more we will receive these things from Him. But the Lord doesn’t stop there. When we live our lives with a humble dependence upon God, He releases physical and material blessings into our lives, too.
Those who see themselves as self-sufficient – who have an independent spirit – will never know the heavenly resources that the Lord reserves for those who are “poor in spirit.” Express your need for Him in every situation and circumstance, and be prepared to be blessed with His very best every time!
Lord, guard me from having an independent spirit that acts as though I don’t need Your help in matters that concern me. Teach me how to pray and believe You for Your divine wisdom, peace, and strength. Remind me that the more I depend on You for all of my needs, the more supernatural joy will fill my being. Thank You that as I refuse to rely on my own resources, You will release a continual flow of heavenly resources on my behalf!
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Nov 18 24
