In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.
(5) 2 Chronicles 16:12-13
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.
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Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
Truly Loved Scripture Reading for the day: John 17: 22-26 Scripture Quote: “I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17:23 (NASB) It’s the greatest feeling to know without a doubt that you are loved. We can feel secure and satisfied knowing that there are those who truly love us, as we are, faults and all. My spouse loves me, my mom loves me, my sister, my children and my closest friends all love me with a strong sense of commitment. But most precious of all is the love that God holds in His heart just for me. Jesus’ prayer says that the Father loves Christ’s followers just as much as He loves Christ Himself. That is almost too awesome to comprehend. As believers and followers of Jesus, we can be certain that we are loved like Jesus is loved. Joyfully reflect on the profound love that the Father has for the Son because that is how He feels about us too. I wonder if we can even come close to comprehending God’s incredible love for us. I know that we can feel humbled to know that no matter what we have done, both evil and good, God’s love stays the course. We can be sustained by it and count on it every single day of our lives until we actually get to be with Him. Today’s meditation: The Almighty Creator of all that exists in the universe picked you to love unconditionally. Memory Verse: “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NASB) Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
Charity Instead of Vengeance scripture Reading for the day: Genesis 26 Scripture Quote: “So Isaac prepared a great feast for them, and they ate and drank in preparation for the treaty ceremony.” Genesis 26:30 (NLT) Isn’t it sad that the most common response to poor treatment from others is to plot something bad to befall them? We automatically seek vengeance to sooth our inevitable pride. We seek public sympathy and privately think hateful things. This kind of behavior really has no place in the life of a follower of Christ. Actually, if we are honest, we can think of as many wrongs that we have dealt others as have been dealt to us. We like to rationalize these facts away in the mist of our indignant tempest. Isaac, who had good reason to be bitter, didn’t respond with anger. Instead he showed mercy and charity to King Abimelech who had previously been jealous of Isaac’s wealth. He had Isaac’s wells filled with dirt and drove Isaac away. Still, Isaac chose Christ’s peaceful way to treat King Abimelech. We can be just as receptive to those who want to make peace with us. Often, God’s influence in our lives draws others to us, even enemies - We can take those opportunities to reach out to them with God’s love. Isaac compromised for the sake of peace. Would you be willing to forsake your pride to keep peace? Is it hard for you to humble yourself in front of others? Meditation for the day: The trouble with taking revenge when we are mistreated is that none of us can claim complete innocence. Memory Verse: “We can plainly see that the LORD is with you. So we decided we should have a treaty, a covenant between us.” Genesis 26:28 Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
God’s Great Love Scripture Reading for the day: Psalm 103:6-14 Scripture Quote: “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.” Romans 8:28 As we try to imitate Christ and become more and more like Him, we begin to discover the person God meant us to be. God works in everything involved in our lives, down to the smallest detail. This doesn’t mean that nothing bad will ever happen to us, but God can change things around for our eventual good. He is not necessarily concerned with our happiness, but mostly His purpose and plan for us. This promise is only for His children – Those who love God and are called by Him to receive Christ and the Holy Spirit. Ask God to allow you to understand the fullness and beauty of all your life experiences, even the painful and challenging experiences. Think of areas of your life that are still not fully submitted and released to God’s total scrutiny. Understand that we so often unwittingly cling to our familiar abilities and resources, rather than believe that God wants to be your only resource and can handle any situation much better than we ever could. Just ask God’s favor in all areas of your life and then turn everything over to Him. Meditation for today: Jesus didn’t come looking for us to help Him, but he did come to help us. Memory Verse: “My future is in your hands.” Psalm 31:14a (NLT) Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com writingforthemaster.com
Daily Prayer Scripture Reading for the day: James 5:1-15 Scripture Quote: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16 (NASB) We can be thankful for the inclination and ability to pray that the Holy Spirit provides and for the awareness He gives us of our own fallen, yet redeemed, humanity. God gives us grace and mercy which he shows us in His forgiveness of our sins. His promises are everlasting and His presence is always within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. He enables us to have the right motives and content in our prayers. We can be especially grateful that His Spirit enables us to call God our Father and understand all that being His adopted child entails. Prayer is our direct line of communication with our loving Father. Because we can pray, we are able to praise Him, thank Him and petition Him as He always invites us to do. We do not have to wait for an urgent need in our lives to talk to God. Prayer is a precious gift given to believers that can be compared to nothing else in our lives. Pray daily and often - Talk to your Father and remain close to Him. Your life will be abundantly enriched. Today’s meditation: “The Holy Spirit desires to help believers develop their basic instinct for prayer into a disciplined means of grace that enables them to be God’s joyful and fruitful coworkers.” Archie Parrish Memory Verse: “Pray without ceasing.” I Thessalonians 5:17 (NASB) The Impossible Wall – by Toni Babcock
"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God," (Galatians 2:19 KJV). Why attempt to climb, or beat against an impossible wall that God has taken away in order to get into heaven? It doesn't make sense does it? Yet, that is what the unbelieving heart will naturally attempt to do unless it believes the gospel. What is the impossible wall? "The handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us," (Colossians 2:13-14 KJV). It is a wall of condemnation, because as sinners, we fail to obey God's perfect laws and ordinances. It is a wall that separates us from God. So how did God remove it? By nailing it to the cross of Christ. Does this mean Christians live lawlessly? Not at all! We who believe the gospel have the law of God written in our hearts, and the principles of faith and love to put it into practice. We have died to sin in Christ and are risen to new life in Christ. The wall that stood between us and God is removed. We are justified by Christ's blood. God transforms us by grace through faith in Christ, (Ephesians 2:8-9). So why attempt to climb or beat against an impossible wall? Two reasons. We find it impossible to believe we can be saved unless we do, or we don't recognize the obstacle we face, believing we are good enough to walk right through it on our own merit. God, help us discern the truth about where we stand in regards to salvation. Help us to recognize our fallen schemes. We would be strong in faith, and trust in your merit and not in our own. Toni is the author of The Stone Writer. Find more of her work HERE. Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www .writingforthemaster.com
God’s Love Is Everlasting Scripture Reading for the day: Exodus 33:18-23 Scripture Quote: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 (NASB) Doesn’t it sometimes surprise you how much God loves us? Spend any time thinking about it and His amazing grace can do no less than astonish us. God sought us out first while we were totally oblivious to our need for Him. Then, all we had to do was just go to Jesus in prayer and confess our sinfulness, ask Him to save us from ourselves and as we came in faith, believing that He truly is God in the flesh, He accepted us into His great and merciful love and guaranteed us that we will be with Him forever. There is nothing that will ever change that. God loved Moses so much that He let him see His Glory! God IS love. We do not deserve it, but God wants us to have life and to have it abundantly (full of His love). We are fortunate indeed. All we need do is believe and receive. Today’s meditation: Let your heart be filled with joy and gratitude for what God has done in you. Memory Verse: “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”. 1 Peter 2:2 (NASB) Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
In Hope We Are Saved Scripture Reading for the day: Romans 8:1-18 Scripture Quote: “Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 (NLT) God doesn’t give us an easy life of comfort, or even protection from our enemies, but His presence is always with us. Many Christians across the world suffer persecution. God offers them, as well as all of us, an inseparable bond of love between Him and His chosen people. Because of this love, we can withstand whatever comes to us in this life. We have the unique advantage of an eternal perspective. We know that we are ultimate victors. God will give us all things that are good for us. Those good things are all things we really need in order to be conformed to the image of his Son. All the things we need in order to attain everlasting joy, not the pleasures offered in this current life. We are only visitors here and can anticipate a great homecoming in our future. Meditation for Today: “In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12-13 Memory Verse: “Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else? Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
Follow In His Steps Scripture Reading for the day: Philippians 2:1-13 Scripture Quote: “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” I Peter 2:21 (NASB) We can walk with Christ each day, following His example of obedience to the Father. The more we think about emulating Jesus, the more our new disposition develops. Our path is joyful, full of love, which is all born from obedience. We demonstrate all this as our actions are a witness to all around us. It is the attitudes of our mind that can change our behavior and thinking. Are we concerned for others and do we want to share the gospel as the gift of good news it really is? Can we help shine light into the darkness? We must have a heart that is willing to examine itself and make changes as the Holy Spirit leads us. We all struggle with sin and pride and many past mistakes that can often make us feel broken inside. All these things can be relieved by simply turning them over to God. Trust deeply and drink deeply of the Living Waters - Following more closely in Jesus steps will become a permanant goal. Meditation for the day: “The gospel is like fish. It must be caught fresh every day.” John Hall Memory Verse: “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.” Luke 18:14 (NASB) |
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