Jul 21 24
A Word Spoken in Due Season
“A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” Proverbs 15:23 NKJV
The Lord taught me a powerful principle about my words when He led me to the verse above recently. He showed me that I can bring myself “joy by the answer of [my] mouth” by answering negative thoughts with “a word spoken in due season.” Let me explain.
When negative thoughts come into our minds as a result of our own toxic thinking – or the devil’s temptations, accusations, or deceptions – we can respond by speaking out the Word of God that applies to our situation. Jesus demonstrated this principle beautifully when Satan came to tempt Him during His forty days in the desert. (See Matthew 4) Each time the devil challenged the Savior, He responded with, “It is written…” followed by an applicable Scripture. And you and I can do the same thing.
Suppose you need healing in your body. Satan will do his best to make you think things are worse than they really are. He will whisper in your ear, “You’re not getting your healing this time.” If you don’t answer him with your mouth, his despicable lies will take root in your mind and heart, and they will keep you from receiving from God. But if you say, “It is written – with the stripes that wounded Jesus, I am healed and made whole!” the devil will have to slink away, his vile strategies having been neutralized. (Isaiah 53:5 AMP; Psalm 112:10 NLT)
If we fail to answer attacks on our minds with the Truth, we will lose our joy for sure. And not just our joy, but our peace, and eventually, our freedom. We must remain on the offensive, not just the defensive, at all times. Being passive can rob us of our God-given purpose and potential. On the other hand, speaking a word in due season to ourselves can keep us on track and ensure that we fulfill our God-given destiny.
The God’s Word (GW) translation of Proverbs 15:23 says: “A person is delighted to hear an answer from his own mouth, and a timely word – oh, how good!” Let yourself hear your own mouth speaking out words of faith, and delight yourself and the Lord every time!
Lord, please help me to spend consistent, undistracted time in Your Word, so that I can recall it when I need to, with the help of Your Holy Spirit. Don’t allow me to take a passive stance toward negative thoughts and ideas that assail me. Guard me from toxic mindsets and emotions, and teach me how to use Your Word against them. Thank You that each time I speak a Word in due season to myself, Your supernatural joy will fill me to overflowing!
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Jul 15 24
The Desires of Your Heart
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 ESV
Have you ever thought about all of the rich and famous people who committed suicide, or who cut their lives short by abusing alcohol or drugs? I have. And I believe I know one of the many reasons why these people end up this way. They never receive the true desires of their hearts. They may attain some measure of “success,” but God can never give them the deep desires of their hearts because they don’t have a personal relationship with Him.
Psalm 37:4 says that when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts. What does it mean to delight ourselves in Him? When I asked the Holy Spirit this very question, He brought Second Corinthians 5:9 (NIV) to my remembrance: “So we make it our goal to please Him.” When we live our lives focused on pleasing God above everyone else, including ourselves, we will be delighting ourselves in the Lord, and He will keep His promise to give us the desires of our hearts. That doesn’t mean that He will indulge every whim of ours, but that He will satisfy all of the desires in our hearts that are good and godly, and that will bring glory to Him.
Another Scripture about this subject is found in Psalm 145:19 (NIV): “He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.” Here, God reveals that He is eager to fulfill the desires of those who hold a deep reverence for Him, and He will answer their prayers, and rescue them in times of trouble. The Passion Translation says it this way: “Every one of Your godly lovers receives even more than what they ask for. For You hear what their hearts really long for and You bring them Your saving strength.” Hallelujah!
The Amplified Translation of Psalm 37:4 says: “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” There are desires in your heart right now that you don’t even know are there. But God knows, because He put them there – and He will answer these “secret petitions” of yours as you live your life for Him!
Lord, work in my heart so that I will always make it my goal in life to please You in all things. Fill me with a deep reverence for You, Your ways, and Your Word. Align my desires with Yours, so that they never conflict with Your plans and purposes for me. Thank You for hearing what my heart really longs for, and giving me even more than what I ask for!
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Jul 7 24
Be Joyful in Hope
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV
One of the purposes of the Word of God is to equip us to be the overcomers that Christ died for us to be. In Romans 12:12 (NIV), the apostle Paul describes ways of living above our circumstances, no matter what we may be facing. He says: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
“Be joyful in hope.” This means that, no matter what is going on around us, and no matter where we are at the time, we are constantly looking ahead. The Living Bible translation says: “Be glad for all God is planning for you.” As followers of Christ, we are never without hope. We know that even if our circumstances seem negative now, brighter days are up ahead for us. Why? Because God is a good God, and His love for us is everlasting and unfailing. The psalmist wrote: “But, O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do. He is my help! He is my God! (Psalm 42:11 TLB) When our hope is in the Lord and His goodness, we will experience the supernatural joy that is our inheritance in Christ.
“Patient in Affliction.” Paul is urging us here to be patient in times of trouble. This is absolutely essential, because when we become impatient in a situation, we often act unwisely and apart from the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and we rob ourselves of God’s best. There are some blessings that we can never receive until we have gone through a period of patiently waiting on God for them. And we have to remind ourselves often that we simply cannot improve on the plans that God has in store for us. Whenever I am tempted to get ahead of God in a situation, I recall some very wise words that I once heard a godly man say: “God’s plan is worth the cost of a delay.” Hebrews 6:12 (NKJV) instructs us to, “Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Be determined to lay hold of your share of the promises of God by exercising patience in times of tension and trouble.
“Faithful in prayer.” It’s been said that the greatest sin is prayerlessness. Too often, we miss out on seeing God show up in a situation in a mighty way because we fail to pray about it, or we stop praying about it too soon. Scripture says: “One day Jesus told His disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes.” (Luke 18:1 TLB) We live in an “instant” generation. We demand instant results, and we often get them. But that’s not God’s way. He tells us, “Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly].” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMP) Some Christians are worried about praying too hard and long for certain things, because when the answer doesn’t come in a “reasonable” amount of time, they fear that they are out of God’s will. But more than likely, in most cases, we step out of God’s will when we STOP praying for something that the Lord has put on our heart. One way that will help us to determine God’s will in a situation is to see how it aligns with God’s Word. The Bible says that we can be confident that God will answer our prayers when they are in harmony with His will – but it doesn’t say WHEN He will answer them. (1 John 5:14-15)
The Message Bible translation of Romans 12:12 says: “Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.” What circumstances and lives could YOU see changed by following Paul’s formula for success?
Lord, when a loved one or I are faced with dark or difficult times, remind me to be joyful in hope. Give me the patience I need to wait for Your timing and Your best. And teach me to persevere in prayer “until the answer comes.” Thank You for the victories and rewards that will be mine as I follow Your Spirit’s lead!
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Jul 1 24
Do Whatever He Tells You
“His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’” John 2:5 NIV
When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast in October of 2012, many of us in Eastern Pennsylvania lost power almost immediately. My husband, Joe, and I had never experienced power outages that lasted more than a few hours, so we were totally unprepared for the long duration of this outage. By the third day, our son and his wife, along with our little grandson, had come to stay with us because their house had gotten so cold, and we had a coal stove to heat our home. After enduring four long days with no hot water, I did everything I could to try to find an available hotel room. But I discovered that this “superstorm” had put so many people in the same predicament that no room could be found, even if we were willing to travel an hour or more. It didn’t help that many of the hotels in our part of the country were without power.
I confess that I was becoming more and more frustrated and bewildered as I earnestly prayed and sought God for a resolution. As my family and I discussed our dwindling options, my husband suddenly picked up his cell phone and dialed our electric company. He asked them when they thought our power would be restored. After checking their work schedules, they replied, “Next Wednesday”. That was almost a week away, and all of us sat silent for a while just thinking about it. Later that day, I spent some time alone with God and read my Bible. I told the Lord that I knew without a doubt that He could restore our power at any time, no matter what the electric company said. I asked Him if there was anything we could do to hasten the restoration of our power, and He led me to a promise of His in First John 3:22 (NLT), which says, “We will receive from Him whatever we ask because we obey Him and do the things that please Him.” I had often claimed this promise with amazing results, on the basis of my sincere desire to live for God and to follow His will. But this time, the Lord was telling me that if I would do what He tells me to do for this particular situation, He would intervene on our behalf in a mighty way.
That evening, I gathered my family together and told them that I felt strongly that God wanted us to pray in agreement for the restoration of our power, according to Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 18:19-20 (NASB): “I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” The very next morning, we had power, and I knew that this was confirmation that I had heard from God, and had followed His instructions.
This experience reminded me of an account in the second chapter of the Gospel of John, where Jesus and His mother were attending a wedding, and the hosts ran out of wine. Right before the Savior performs a miracle, Mary tells the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5 NIV) Sometimes, the Lord is ready and willing to intervene in a mighty way on our behalf, but He is waiting on us to do something specific. Often, it will be a small act of obedience that God requires – perhaps even what seems like an insignificant act. But if we will seek His will, and follow His instructions, we will witness Him doing something that will delight our hearts, and strengthen our faith. The Lord wants to reveal Himself to you in a fresh, new way today. What is it that He is asking you to do?
Lord, when I am dealing with difficulty, hardship, or suffering of any kind, show me how to seek Your face and Your wisdom for my situation. Make me sensitive to Your voice, and give me a willingness to obey You. Thank You that as I follow Your instructions – no matter how insignificant they may seem – I will witness Your mighty intervention on my behalf!
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Jun 23 24
Be at Rest Once More
“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7 NIV
I have been declaring this Bible verse to myself every day for over a decade. The Lord had me memorize it years ago when I was going through a dark and difficult time in my life. At the time, I was finding it almost impossible to feel thankful or “at rest.” All I could see was trouble all around me. God wanted me to shift my focus from my burdens to my blessings, and this verse helped me to do that.
No matter what we are going through, we can always find something to be grateful for. If we are totally honest, we have loved ones in our lives who we can give thanks for. We have provisions supplied by God that we can be grateful for. There are parts of our bodies that still work well, even though we tend to focus on the ones that don’t. The Lord gives us sunshine to brighten our faces, and moonlight to comfort us. There is so much that we take for granted every day of our lives, and it robs us of the precious benefits of gratitude – peace, contentment, comfort, and healing.
I am not, by nature, a grateful person. But I want to be. I continue to declare this verse to myself every day because it helps me to get my focus off of myself, and onto the One who deserves my undying gratitude and devotion. And in doing that, I find a peace that I cannot find any other way.
If you are in need of true “rest” today – a word that in this context means, “a state of unthreatened well-being” – then I encourage you to memorize this verse, just as I did those many years ago. Then whenever doubt or discouragement come your way, you can declare with every fiber of your being – Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you!
Lord, please forgive me for the times that I took Your blessings for granted. Give me a truly grateful heart, and help me not to overlook the good things and people that You have placed in my life. Whenever I struggle with negative emotions, empower me to cast down wrong thoughts, and to replace them with God-honoring ones. Thank You that as I rest in Your faithfulness and goodness, I will experience the peace, contentment, comfort, and healing that You have in store for me!
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Jun 17 24
Active Faith
“When Jesus saw their [active] faith [springing from confidence in Him], He said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” Mark 2:5 AMP
I was feeling more aches and pains than usual one day, and I thought it might be wise to see my chiropractor, even though I wasn’t due to visit him until the following week. My husband, Joe, had left me the money to give my doctor on our kitchen counter, but when I saw it, I began debating with myself if I would really need it. “I probably won’t be able to get an appointment at the last minute. This is a busy time for my doctor. But I sure would like to see him today.”
Right then, the Lord impressed upon me that before I called the doctor, I was to take the money and put it in the front section of my wallet, like I always do when I’m leaving for my appointments. He reminded me that I had prayed that my doctor would be in that day, and that God would give me favor with him so that I could see him at the last minute. So I grabbed the money as an act of faith, and put it in my wallet, and I called the doctor’s office, discovering that my chiropractor was happy to squeeze me into his busy schedule that afternoon.
The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about how a simple act of faith – such as putting the money in my wallet – can open the door to an unexpected blessing. He reminded me of a passage in the Gospel of Mark where four friends made a hole in someone’s roof to lower an ailing friend on a mat right in front of Jesus. The Scripture says, “When Jesus saw their [active] faith [springing from confidence in Him], He said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (Mark 2:5 AMP) The Bible reveals that Jesus not only forgave the man’s sins, but He healed him of his infirmity. (v. 10-12)
The Lord is constantly looking for people with “active” faith – faith that He and others can SEE, expressed through our words and actions. Our faith should always spring forth from our “confidence in [Christ],” not ourselves, or anyone or anything else. Put these principles to work in your own life today, and discover for yourself that a small act of faith can be a powerful thing!
Lord, teach me how to have “active faith” that will enable me to lay hold of all the good things You have in store for me. Deliver me from doubt and unbelief, and help me to cooperate with You for the building of my faith. Remind me to keep my confidence in You, and not in myself or others. Thank You that as I demonstrate faith that You and others can see through my words and actions, lives will be changed, and You will be glorified!
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Jun 9 24
An ‘Easy Thing’ for God
“You will not see wind or rain, but this valley will be filled with water… The Lord considers that an easy thing to do.” 2 Kings 3:16, 18 GW
One of my favorite passages in the Bible tells of an alliance of three kings – the King of Israel, the King of Judah, and the King of Edom – marching against the rebellious nation of Moab. After the three kings march for seven days with their armies, they run out of water for themselves and their animals. King Jehoshaphat of Judah calls upon Elisha the prophet, who delivers the following message – “This is what the Lord says: Make this valley full of ditches. You will not see wind or rain, but this valley will be filled with water. You, your cattle, and your other animals will drink. The Lord considers that an easy thing to do. In addition, He will put Moab at your mercy.” (2 Kings 3:16-18 GW)
Now, think about this for a moment. God asks His people to dig ditches in a bone-dry desert, warning them that they won’t see ANY signs that their provision is coming. And He emphasizes that this feat is an “easy thing” for Him to accomplish. To their credit, the men take God at His Word and witness a miracle. Verse 20 says, “The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere.”
There are many lessons that we can learn from this passage, but let me share just two of them with you here. First, God can cause our provision and blessings to “suddenly appear” without warning or signs of any kind. So don’t think that because you don’t see anything happening in your situation, that God isn’t working behind the scenes on your behalf. Secondly, there may be times when the Lord asks us to prepare for the answers to our prayers ahead of time – not by “digging ditches,” but by some small act of faith.
No matter how impossible your situation looks today, believe that God is still in the miracle-working business, and that it will be an “easy thing” for Him to exceed your highest expectations!
Lord, I thank You that You are a miracle-working God, and that nothing is impossible with You. (Matthew 19:26) Help me to understand and believe that I don’t need to see any visible or tangible signs ahead of time for You to work wonders on my behalf. Teach me to go to You first with all of my needs, concerns, and desires. Show me how to cooperate with You for the victory in every situation and circumstance. Thank You that the things that the world sees as impossible are “easy” things for You!
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Jun 2 24
Even Then I will be Confident
“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, EVEN THEN I will be confident.” Psalm 27:3 NIV
The Holy Spirit showed me this verse and issued me a challenge: When faced with adversity or opposition, can I honestly say like David the warrior-king, “Even then I will be confident”? As I studied this beautiful psalm, the Spirit of God revealed to me how David kept his confidence in the Lord in the midst of his trials. “My heart says of You, ‘Seek His face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8 NIV)
David looked to the Lord for help in times of difficulty, danger, and disappointment. And if we will do the same thing, we will find the same strength, wisdom, and assistance available to us. One translation of verse 8 says, “My heart told me to come to You, Lord, so I am coming to ask for Your help.” (Psalm 27:8 ERV) Do some serious soul-searching today, and ask yourself who or what you are in the habit of turning to first whenever trouble comes your way. If it’s anything or anyone other than God, then I can tell you with absolute certainty that you are missing out on some of the best blessings, rewards, and opportunities that the Lord has for you.
Imagine a dialogue between you and God… “Will you remain confident in Me when you are hurting?” Yes, Lord, even then! “How about when you are overlooked and unappreciated?” Yes, Lord, even then! “When your body aches?” Yes, Lord! “When the doctor’s report isn’t good?” Yes, Lord, yes! “ When you lose your source of income?” Yes! “When a loved one rejects you?” Yes, Lord, even then I will keep my confidence in You!
I don’t know what you are going through today, but I can tell you this: If you will keep your confidence in the Lord, and seek His face, He will turn your trials into triumphs for His glory!
Lord, when I am faced with adversity, heartache, or disappointment, remind me to turn to You first. Fill me with Christlike confidence so that even in the midst of pain and turmoil, I will put my trust in You and Your Word. Speak to me as I get quiet before You, and enable me to hear and to heed Your voice. Thank You that as I press in to You and Your plans for me, I will experience the divine strength, wisdom, blessings, and benefits that only You can provide!
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May 26 24
The Touch of Faith
At that moment Jesus felt power had gone out of Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched My clothes?” His disciples said to Him, “How can You ask, ‘Who touched Me,’ when You see the crowd pressing You on all sides?” Mark 5:30-31 GW
Chapter Five of the Gospel of Mark gives an account of a woman who “had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.” (v. 25 NIV) We are told that, “When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.’” (v. 28) Her faith was rewarded, because the Scripture says, “Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (v. 29)
But her story doesn’t end there. The Bible goes on to say: “At that moment Jesus felt power had gone out of Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched My clothes?’” (v. 30 GW) His disciples respond with a reasonable question: “How can You ask, ‘Who touched Me,’ when You see the crowd pressing You on all sides?” (v. 31) The Scripture reveals that Jesus basically ignored His disciples and “kept looking around to see the woman who had done this.” (v. 32) Finally, the woman came forward and “told Him the whole truth.” (v. 33) Jesus then says to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness.” (v. 34)
What’s interesting is that even though there were people pressing Jesus on all sides, it wasn’t until this woman touched Him that He “felt power had gone out of Him.” Why? Because she touched Him with her faith. One Bible commentator makes mention of “the supernatural power that flowed out of Jesus at the touch of faith.” Lots of people were bumping into the Savior that day, but the Scripture doesn’t mention them. It does, however, highlight this woman’s touch of faith that enabled her to receive the healing she sought for twelve long years.
Here’s my point: Simply bumping in to Jesus will not enable us to receive from Him the way that reaching out to Him in faith will. One way we can reach out to God in faith is to pray faith-filled prayers. Prayers based on the Word and promises of God are supremely powerful. Taking steps of obedience are also powerful expressions of our faith. When we seek the Lord’s will in prayer, and His Spirit prompts us to do something, as soon as we make a move to follow Him, He responds to our step of faith. Let’s not spend the rest of our lives merely bumping in to Jesus, and missing out on His best blessings. Let’s reach out and touch Him with our faith every time!
Lord, teach me how to reach out to You in faith. Show me how to pray faith-filled prayers that are promise-centered, and not problem-centered. Reveal to me what steps of obedience You would like me to take each day of my life, and make me quick to obey You. Help me to cooperate with You on a regular basis for the building of my faith. Thank You that as I reach out and touch You with my faith, I will reap all of the blessings and breakthroughs that You have for me!
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May 19 24
