What Is Your Highest Aspiration?

Text:

Luke 18:18 (ESV) 

18  And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 

Observation:

There is something powerful and life changing by asking good questions. The one posed in our text is an example. However, be careful who you ask, and who you listen to. Be sure you ask the Good Teacher.

Here is another good question.

Luke 18:24-26 (ESV) 

24  Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 

25  For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 

26  Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" 

Listen to the answer of the Good Teacher.

Luke 18:27-30 (ESV) 

27  But he said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." 

28  And Peter said, "See, we have left our homes and followed you." 

29  And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 

30  who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life." 

What is separating you from God's will for your life? Do you know God, and His power? If you know God, what is separating you from His daily presence, and power in your life?

Do you realize that everything you need God is able and willing to supply? Why not come to Him, and ask Him to help you?

Luke 18:27 (ESV) 

27  But he said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Father, we are needy people, and we need Your help to know and do your will, and to live in Your presence forever. Lord, help us is our cry. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Who Are You Living For?

Text:

Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB) 

8  For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift— 

9  not from works, so that no one can boast. 

10  For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. 

Observation:

The compelling desire of my life is to be pleasing to God in everything I say, and in everything I do.

What a wonderful change has been made in me since Jesus came into my life, and took up permanent residence.

My soul sings of His wondrous work: "I'm so glad, Jesus lifted me, 

I'm so glad, Jesus lifted me, 

I'm so glad, Jesus lifted me, 

singing glory, hallelujah, 

Jesus lifted me".

These are three things that are foundational principles that I live by in my daily life.

• Worship -  I will worship the Lord everyday.

Psalm 34:1 (HCSB) 

1 I will praise the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. 

• Walk - I can't even walk unless God is holding my hand.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (NLT) 

1  Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 

2  For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 

• Work out what God has deposited in me.

Philippians 2:12-13 (HCSB) 

12  So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 

13  For it is God who is working in you, {enabling you} both to desire and to work out His good purpose. 

Is the focus of your life about your worship, walk and work for the Lord? To live in this world you need to know the Lord, and be known by Him, and received from God the gift of eternal life.

The secret to living for Jesus is to walk by the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

Galatians 5:16 (NLT) 

16  So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. 

Prayer:

Father, we give glory and honor to You, and to Jesus, our Savior and the Lord of our life.

Father, thank you for your loving-kindness, and your tender mercies that you have give to your children in abundance.

Father, we ask for more of Thee, and less of me in our daily worship, walk, and work. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

What Is Your Greatest Need?

Text:

Psalm 40:16-17 (HCSB) 

16  Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your salvation continually say, "The LORD is great!" 

17  I am afflicted and needy; the Lord thinks of me. You are my helper and my deliverer; my God, do not delay. 

Observation:

This morning I turned to one of the Psalms to speak encouragement into my heart, and I pray that it will speak into your heart.

David said, "I am afflicted and needy; the Lord thinks of me". Isn't it wonderful to know that the Lord thinks about you. The world will think about you when you are on top, but the Lord thinks of you when you are at your lows.

Psalm 34:18 (HCSB) 

18  The LORD is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. 

David realized that the way out of his broken heart and crushed spirit was to humble himself, and to look up to the Lord.

Psalm 51:17 (HCSB) 

17  The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart. 

David always took the time to worship the Lord no matter what he was going through. He knew that God cared, and that God was always available to listen to his plea.

Why not follow the example of David, who the Bible says was a man after God's own heart.

• He magnified the Lord.
• He sung praises to the Lord.
• He told God his needs.
• He trusted in God with his whole heart.

Remember, God is for you, and not against you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB) 

11  For I know the plans I have for you"—{this is} the LORD's declaration—"plans for {your} welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

My soul sings, "My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus' name".

Prayer:

Father, I delight to lift up, and magnify You. Father, you are great, glorious, and gracious to all who humbly seek your face.

Father, I am so grateful for all of the love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy that I have received from You. Father, I am so blessed to be able to say with David, and the Saints of the ages these words.

Psalm 23:1 (HCSB) 

1 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. 

Father, help us to remember that the way out of our lows is to look up, and to give You praise and thanks for who you are, and for your mighty works. Let the people of God say, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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This Is A Good News Story

Text:

John 3:16 (ESV) 

16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

John 5:24 (ESV) 

24  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 

Observation:

The hymn writer expresses the desire that exits in the depths of my heart, and I have a burning desire to share it. What a story!

"I love to tell the story,

'Twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love."

The hymn says, "Some have never heard the story". But, the writer also says, "Those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest".

I was reminded recently of a saying that went something like this, "If you live for the approval of other people, you will die from the rejection of other people".

I would rather live for the approval of the one who knows me best, and loves me most. I associate myself with the Apostle Paul in his desire, and aim in life.

Philippians 1:21 (ESV) 

21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

Paul makes this appeal in his letter to the church at Rome, and to us today through the Word of God.

Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) 

1  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 

2  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

What is your story? Everyone has a story, and I pray that God, and His love is at the center of your story.

I have a plaque on my desk that someone gave me many years ago. I just looked at it and read these words.

"Open my eyes so others may see you. Fill me, so others may find fullness in you".

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, I add my voice to the saints of the ages in singing, and shouting praises to You.

Psalm 146:1-2 (HCSB) 

1  Hallelujah! My soul, praise the LORD. 

2  I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live. 

Father, hear our prayer, and may our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving be pleasing in your eyes. Father, fill us, and use us for your glory. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Living in the Moment - - Keep Moving Forward

Text:

Philippians 3:12-14 (HCSB) 

12 Not that I have already reached [the goal] or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

I initially wrote about this topic over two years ago; the date was February 16, 2014. It was brought to my attention by a report in Google that someone recently viewed it.

Life is lived one day at a time, and we all have the same amount of time. We start each week with 168 hours. So, it is not a matter of the quantity of time we have, but how we use time.

We can't manage time, but we can manage ourselves. It begins with knowing your purpose for being alive; knowing this will supply the passion to get it done. Talent and skills are important. However, they are not enough; you need to have endurance.

The race of life is not a sprint; rather, it is a marathon. To receive the prize, you must finish the race. Therefore, like the Apostle Paul, we should make it our goal to run to win.

The writer of Hebrews said this concerning running the race of life:

Hebrews 12:1-2 (HCSB) 

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.

So, stay in the moment. Taking just one small step forward will move you toward accomplishing your purpose and goals in life. Make it your aim to run with purpose; to run with endurance, and to never give up. The process may be hard, but the prize is worth it; embrace and enjoy your life.

What I wrote then spoke into my heart today. I pray it will speak into your heart the day you read it.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful that You give Your people the wisdom, and the power to go, grow, and glow.

Father, I am so thankful for the grace and strength that You provide to help us keep on keeping on. O, how I look forward to sitting at the feet of my Savior, and live in the Father's house forever. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

How Are You Doing In Your Stewardship?

Text:

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (ESV) 

1  This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

2  Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 

Observation:

Do you identify and associate yourself as a servant of Christ? If so, how are you doing? Notice what Paul writes to the church about the accountability of Christ followers to Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:2-4 (ESV) 

2  Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 

3  But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 

4  For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 

Is it the desire of your heart to be faithful to God? The Lord has deposited something precious within each of His children, and we need to be faithful in carrying out our God ordained life purpose. The reward of faithfulness is fruitfulness.

Luke 16:10 (ESV) 

10  "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 

Do you want to be pleasing in the eyes of God? Then, be faithful in fulfilling your purpose, and use the gifts that God has given you for His glory, and the building of the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 11:5-6 (ESV) 

5  By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 

6  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, it is such a privilege to be members of the family of God, and to be able to call you, our Father.

Father, the desire of our hearts is that we, your daughters and sons, will be found faithful and fruitful in your eyes. Father, we recognize that the need for the days we are living in now requires the people of God to have faith in God, and to be faithful.

Father, when You look at us, may You see in us what You saw in Your servants Paul and Enoch, and so many other saints of the ages. Father, may Your will be done in us. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

Who Is Willing to Be A Light?

Text:

1 John 1:5-7 (HCSB) 

5  Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. 

6  If we say, "We have fellowship with Him," yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 

7  But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Observation:

Today as I read this passage my thoughts go back to a dear friend who is now living in the land of those who are truly alive. In our conversations, he frequently recited this verse. 

Luke 1:37 (NIV) 

37  For nothing is impossible with God." 

The light bulb moment for me is this portion of verse five in our focal passage.

"Now this is the message we have heart from Him and declare to you."

When I write these devotionals I feel like one hungry beggar telling another where to find bread.

Today my plea is come and see; come eat, come and feast at the table of the Lord. Then, go and tell another beggar where to find bread.

What is the message of 1 John 1:5-7?

• God is light. In Him is no darkness.
• Those who have fellowship with God do not walk in darkness.
• It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin.
• The blessed life is the person who walks with Jesus in this dark world, and lets the light of the Lord shine in them, and on others.

Dear friends, let's release the light of the Lord upon all those we come in contact with in the marketplaces of life in this world in our walk and our talk.

Philippians 4:8 (NLT) 

8  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

Prayer:

Father, we exalt your name, and give you the glory, honor, and praise that you alone deserve.

Father, I plead with You to grant us the grace and favor of being light in this dark and dangerous world.

Matthew 5:15-16 (HCSB) 

15  No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 

16  In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

Are You Running With Endurance?

Text:

Hebrews 12:1-3 (HCSB) 

1  Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 

2  keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne. 

3  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won't grow weary and lose heart. 

Observation:

What are the obstacles that we have to overcome to run with endurance? I'm talking about running the race of life to win; to finish, and receive the crown.

This is a list, not exhaustive, that reminds us of some of the things that hinder the running to win in the race of life.

• Discouragement 
• Disappointment
• Distraction
• Obstacles
• Opposition
• Oppression

We need to remember what Jesus said about living in the world.

John 16:33 (ESV) 

33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." 

What Jesus told His disciples is so important for Christ followers today. He said that He has overcome the world. He also said another word with a promise.

John 14:27 (ESV) 

27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 

The peace and the power to run with endurance is in the person of our Christ; it is in Jesus. Does Christ live in you?

In conclusion, let us do what the writer of Hebrews admonishes the readers to do. Let us look to Jesus, and let us consider what He went through to finish His purpose for coming into the world.

My prayer is that each of you will be able to say what the Apostle Paul said to Timothy.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (HCSB) 

7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 

8  There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing. 

Prayer: 

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, I am so grateful for Your amazing love, the gift of faith that enable me to believe in Jesus, and the hope that I have to live in your presence forever.

Father, I am so grateful that I don't have to wait until I get to heaven to live in your presence; I can do it today. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

What Do You See and Hear?

Text:

Romans 10:17 (ESV) 

17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 

Observation:

Where is the focus of your eyes and ears? Do you see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, failure and doubt?

Have you resigned yourself to this, "It is what it is?" That may be true, but have you considered that it is not what it appears?

When the reality of a windstorm faced the disciples of Jesus, they thought they were going to perish. However, they were not alone because Jesus was in the boat. This is what He told them after commanding the winds to be still.

Mark 4:40 (ESV) 

40  He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 

We need God in our lives to get through this world, and live the overcoming life.

Hebrews 12:2 (HCSB) 

2  keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne. 

We need to take our eyes off of the circumstances, and fix and keep our eyes upon Jesus. We need to have faith in God; it is God's gift to His children.

Hebrews 11:1 (HCSB) 

1  Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 

Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB) 

6  Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. 

Are the words of this hymn your song?

"My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

  Savior Divine;

Now hear me while I pray;

Take all my guilt away;

Oh, let me from this day

  Be wholly Thine."

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, I am so thankful for the God of the Word, and the Word of God.

Father, I join in singing with the Saints of the ages, "My Faith Looks Up to Thee".

Father, by faith in You, we take the focus of our eyes and ears off of the world, and fix them on Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry