Do You Realize the Power You Have In Your Hands?

Text:

Psalm 145:14 (NLT) 

14  The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. 

Observation: 

Let everyone that has hands put them to use today. I was singing this song, "Lift Him Up", and I found such joy, love and peace as I joined in singing and dancing to this hymn of praise for 4 minutes and 21 seconds along with Ron Kenoly.

"Lift Him up

His name be lifted higher

Lift Him up

Exalt His holy name

Lift Him up

His name be lifted higher

Exalt His holy name."

We encounter people each day who have fallen and need a hand to lift them up from beneath the heavy load that they are carrying.

You can't help others without being blessed, and many times the greater blessing falls upon you.

Luke 6:38 (NLT) 

38  Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." 

You can't beat God giving. Give to others what you need, and the fruit will grow. Learn the lesson displayed by grass, it just grows. Another example, the fish just swims. 

Give and you will receive, show mercy and you will receive mercy.

Matthew 5:7 (NLT) 

7  God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Father, I pray that we will be stirred within our hearts to use our hands for Your glory and a help to those who need a helping hand to lift them up.

Father, we lift our hands in praise for all that You are going to do in us, and through us, as we lift our hands out to lift up others, and hands up to give You praise, honor and glory. We pray, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

--

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Where Is Your City of Refuge?

Text:

Proverbs 18:10-11 (NLT) 

10  The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. 

11  The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. 

Observation:

Do you go to the place of the godly or the place of the wealthy? God has made you a free moral agent. You get to decide who you will follow. Notice what Jesus said; it's the season to listen to God speak.

Matthew 6:24 (NLT) 

24  "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 

The God who created you is surely able to take care of you; to feed you, and protect you.

This God who loves you with an unfailing love will give you the wisdom that you need to make godly choices, and to live a godly life. Meditate upon what He did for David.

Psalm 73:23-26 (NLT) 

23  Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. 

24  You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. 

25  Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 

26  My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. 

There is more. Look at what He did for Solomon, David's son, and successor as King of Israel.

Proverbs 3:5-8 (NLT) 

5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 

6  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 

7  Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 

8  Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. 

Prayer:

Father God, we humble ourselves in Your presence. Father, we unite our hearts together to join with David in singing praises to You; there is none like You.

Psalm 145:1-3 (NLT) 

1  I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. 

2  I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. 

3  Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. 

Father God, we seek shelter under the cover of Your everlasting arms. We unite together in this prayer in the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

--

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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Where Does God Fit In Your Plans?

Text:

Psalm 32:8 (NLT) 

8  The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. 

Observation:

There is great value in dreaming big dreams and having lofty aspirations. These are the fuel that energizes our passion. However, the time comes when we need to take action.

The goodnews for the woman and man of God is that we have a great leader, and He has a wonderful plan for our life.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) 

11  For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

Let's look at what God said to Jeremiah, and what Jeremiah said in response to God's declaration.

Jeremiah 1:5-7 (NLT) 

5  "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations." 

6  "O Sovereign LORD," I said, "I can't speak for you! I'm too young!" 

7  The LORD replied, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 

Do you find yourself saying, "I can't?" You are right. You can't but God can. Are you ready to let go, and let God have His way in your life?

Are you willing to pray the prayer that David prayed?

Psalm 119:35 (NLT) 

35  Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. We exalt You and give you the praise, glory, and honor befitting our heavenly Father.

Father, we also humble ourselves before you and pray this prayer that your servant David prayed.

Psalm 73:22-24 (NLT) 

22  I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. 

23  Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. 

24  You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. 

Father, tune our hearts to agree with Your heart and give us the desire to know your will and to do it by the strength that you provide. We pray together in the name of Jesus, Amen.

--

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Why Should You Listen When God Speaks?

Text:

Psalm 33:19-22 (NLT) 

19  He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. 

20  We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. 

21  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 

22  Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone. 

Observation:

How great is the God of the Bible? How you view the greatness of God and the reality of God will determine how much interest you will have in what He has to say to you about your life and your destiny.

The God of the Psalmist spoke, and the result was creation.

Psalm 33:6 (NLT) 

6  The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. 

Who wouldn't listen to a God like this? Yes, you can put your hope for today and tomorrow in a God like this. When God spoke in creation notice what happened.

Genesis 1:3-5 (NLT) 

3  Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 

4  And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 

5  God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. 

This God who spoke in creation also speaks to individuals. It pays to listen to God today. When you trust in Him, and not in yourself, you will find that things work out so much better.

It is wise to put your trust in God and obey His Word. It is folly to put your trust in yourself, and your own understanding. If God is for you, who can be against you? Trusting in yourself tends to work against you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) 

5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 

6  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 

Prayer:

Father God, we delight to spend time in your Word and to listen to the voice of wisdom speak to us.

Father, thank You for being a faithful God. We take comfort in your unfailing love that never fails and never gives up on us. O the blessing of being loved by our Maker and our Keeper. We pray together in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

--

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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How Great Is God’s Love?

Text:

Psalm 36:7 (NLT) 

7  How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. 

Observation:

This verse is one that cries out for us to STOP. David had seen and experienced a lot of things in his life. He recounts some of his thoughts in Psalm 36:1-4.

The next thing that David did should encourage us. He took the upward look and focused his mind, heart, and soul upon God.

Psalm 36:5-6 (NLT) 

5  Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. 

6  Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. 

The next thing he wrote grips my heart and nourishes my soul.

Psalm 36:7 (NLT) 

7  How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. 

How great is our God? How great is God's love? Thankfully, it is not beyond our reach to receive and to give it to others. This is what God has done for His children.

Romans 5:5 (NLT) 

5  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

Why not share the gift of love that is within you with someone today. You may not be able to see the outward sign of pain, but buried within each of us is some kind of pain waiting to burst out. Do for others what Jesus has done for you.

John 15:12 (NLT) 

12  This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, we are so grateful to be recipients of Your love.

Father, we pray this pastoral prayer that the Apostle Paul prayed in his day for the Body of Christ today.

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NLT) 

16  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 

17  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. 

18  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 

19  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 

--

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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What Is So Powerful About God’s Presence?

Text:

Isaiah 30:15 (NLT) 

15  This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. 

Observation:

This song, by Chris Tomlin, is playing as I sat down to write today's devotional:

"Love so amazing
Love so amazing
Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all".

God planted in my heart a big dream last month. I took the first step three weeks ago to turning that dream into a reality.

Today I am in day six of seven of pausing before continuing the next phase of the project.

On day three I read Isaiah 30:15, which is our focal verse for today's devotional. This verse is an affirmation that taking a pause was a good idea.

I am being so blessed by the peace, joy, rest, and refreshment I am finding in living in the presence of the LORD, and listening to Him, and reflecting upon what He is saying to me, and taking the steps He reveals to me through the Word of God

When we devote the first fruits of our time to God, He will do more in the remaining time than we could ever do if we forfeited the time we spend with God.

The song, "I am Thine, O Lord, I have Heard Thy Voice" by Fanny Crosby informs and inspires me.

"I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

  And it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith,

  And be closer drawn to Thee".

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, it is such a privilege and pleasure to abide in Your presence.

Father, Your voice is so sweet to the ears of our heart. We listen with awe in Your presence.

Father, we realize that in quietness and in trusting confidence, we shall receive the strength and courage we need to fulfill your tailored made purpose and plans for our life.

Father, I pray we will be numbered with those who will do Your will and not those who would not. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

--

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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Do You Need Mercy In Your Life?

Text:

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) 

16  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 

Observation:

This week we have talked about God's love and grace. You can read those by clicking on this link: https://herbcotton.blogspot.com.

Today I want to meditate on God's mercy. In the Psalms, we see that David felt the deep need in his life for mercy.

Psalm 51:7 (NLT) 

7  Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 

The grace of God covers the penalty for our sins. But, it is God's mercy that covers the shame of our sins.

Psalm 51:10 (NLT) 

10  Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 

I'm so thankful and forever will be so grateful that God's mercy trumps God's judgment.

James 2:13 (NLT) 

13  There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. 

But, it gets even better. God looks with favor on the one who receives mercy and gives it to others.

Matthew 5:7 (NLT) 

7  God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

Prayer:

Father God, we come into your presence today, and we exalt your name and give you the glory that only you deserve.

Father, we are so grateful for the loving gift of mercy. Father, we are so glad that your mercy covers the shame of our sins, and frees us to experience the joy of our salvation. 

Father, I'm at a loss for words to express our appreciation for the gifts of love, grace, and mercy. So, I look to the Psalmist for help.

Psalm 51:16-17 (NLT) 

16  You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 

17  The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. 

Father, we agree with David; we offer the sacrifice that you desire, and we surrender to you our whole heart. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

--

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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Are You A Receiver of God’s Grace?

Text:

Romans 3:24 (NLT) 

24  Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 

Observation:

Today I have the grace and graciousness of the Lord on my mind. Have you received the grace of God that brings salvation?

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) 

8  God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 

9  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 

I'm so grateful to God for the grace gift of God that provided the means for my salvation.

But, God's grace was not finished with me. God's people have this wonderful gift of grace for every day of our life. Whatever is hindering you in your walk with the Lord, God's grace is sufficient for all your needs.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) 

9  Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your name. Father, we consecrate our lives to the purpose for which You made us.

Father God,  when we face the trials, and temptations of life, we ask You to grant us, and for us to be grateful receivers of Your sufficient grace for all of our needs.

Father, thank You for exchanging our weaknesses for Your strength. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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

 

Why Love for One Another Matters?

Text:

John 13:34-35 (NLT) 

34  So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 

35  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." 

Observation:

It's amazing how God works in the lives of His children. I prayed a simple prayer last night before going to bed, and again this morning when I woke up. Lord, what do you want to say through me the remainder of this week.

As I was preparing to go to my computer hutch to write today's devotional, I received a text message from my dear friend Robert. We do this just about every day. In that brief message of encouragement were three words that leaped off the page, and into my heart.

I received those words from Robert as my instructions from the Lord of what I should write about this morning, and the next two days. This is another of those WOW moments.

This was my response to Robert:

I'm going to write about the love of two friends I talk to every morning; Jesus in heaven, and Robert in Maryland The key that binds us together are love of God, and love for one another. Man, that will preach.

Well, I'm not going to preach it here, but I do share it with you with a prayer that it will encourage you to pray continually because prayer changes things, and it changes you, and me.

Also, I want to encourage you to value your relationships; your family, friends, and neighbors.

Love begins with loving God. But for our love to be genuine, we must love one another; the people we see everyday; family, friends, and neighbors.

1 John 4:20 (NLT) 

20  If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 

Prayer:

Father hallowed be Your name. Father, we love, and adore You, and to prove that our love is genuine, I pray that we will learn how to extend our love, and forgiveness to those that we see in our everyday life. We can't love others without forgiving them because we all mess up.

Father, forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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

 

How Well Do You Know Yourself?

Text:

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT) 

9  But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 

Observation:

I am so much enjoying the process of walking through the Bible this year with the family of God in the place where God has planted me to worship, and praise His name.

The one word goal of the church this year is SPEAK, and my one word goal for this year is LISTEN. It's amazing how God orders the steps of His children.

In my quiet time earlier this morning while I was listening with the ears of my heart, I heard God speak into my heart the topic I am now writing about.

I recall in 2015 sharing my one word goal for that year with a friend. The one word goal that year was BE. That friend responded to me that her favorite one word was AM.

My response this morning was one word, WOW!

Today, and everyday, I want to BE the person God says, I am, and you are, as we become more and more like Jesus.

1. You are a chosen people.
2. You are royal priests
3. You are a holy nation.
4. You are God's very own possession.
5. You are an ambassador of Christ to the world that God so loves.

John 20:21-22 (NLT) 

21  Again he said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." 

22  Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 

Now, that you have listened, go and be who God made you to be, and go where He sends you, and do what He tells you to do. He has given you everything you need to fulfill your purpose.

Romans 5:5 (NLT) 

5  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father. I delight to know who I am, and what You want me to do for the remainder of my life.

Father, thank You for giving me everything I need to fulfill my assignment. Father, thank You for giving me the love of the Father, the presence of Jesus, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Father, I am so thankful that You are one God in three persons; blessed be the name of the LORD, and His people said, Amen.

--

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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